2019 Air Quality Annual Status Report (ASR)

Cheshire West and Chester Council

In fulfilment of Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 Local Air Quality Management

June 2019

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Local Authority Officer Ian Nadin / Jim Candlin

Department Environmental Protection, Regulatory Services

Address Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford, Cheshire CW7 1AH Telephone 0300 1237038

Email EnvironmentalProtection@cheshirewestandchester. gov.uk Report Reference EP/LAQM/ASR19 number Date June 2019

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Executive summary: air quality in our area Air quality in Cheshire West and Chester

Air pollution is associated with a number of adverse health impacts. It is recognised as a contributing factor in the onset of heart disease and cancer. Also, air pollution particularly affects the most vulnerable in society: children and older people, and those with heart and lung conditions. There is also often a strong correlation with equalities issues, because areas with poor air quality are also often the less affluent areas1,2.

The annual health cost to society of the impacts of particulate matter alone in the UK is estimated to be around £16 billion3.

This annual status report covers monitoring results for 2018 and action that the Council is taking in a bid to improve local air quality.

In Cheshire West and Chester the main pollutants of concern are nitrogen dioxide

(NO2), particulate matter (PM) and sulphur dioxide (SO2).

National government has set health-based objectives for a range of pollutants and, where these are not met, the local authority must declare an air quality management area (AQMA) and commit to improving local air quality through action planning. There are four designated AQMAs in the borough. Three of these, located in Chester, Ellesmere Port and Frodsham relate to exceedances of the annual mean

NO2 objective due to road traffic. The fourth, in Thornton-le-Moors, was declared because of exceedances of the 15-minute mean SO2 objective caused by industrial emissions. Details of the AQMAs and associated action plans can be found on the Council website at www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/aqmanagement .

The NO2 annual average objective is exceeded at a number of locations in the Chester city centre AQMA. Data from 2018 indicates that the objective was not exceeded at residential properties in the AQMAs in Frodsham and Ellesmere Port.

National air quality objectives for PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 micrometres in diameter) are complied with in Cheshire West and Chester. There is currently no regulatory standard applied to PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometres in

1 Environmental equity, air quality, socioeconomic status and respiratory health, 2010 2 Air quality and social deprivation in the UK: an environmental inequalities analysis, 2006 3 Defra. Abatement cost guidance for valuing changes in air quality, May 2013

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 i Cheshire West and Chester Council diameter) for local authorities, but European Union (EU) limit values have been set as there are well-documented associations with health effects. Local data suggests that PM2.5 levels at background sites are well below the limit value.

At our long-term monitoring sites there is a discernible downwards trend in NO2 and

PM10 concentrations over time. Monitoring stations recording the highest levels of

SO2 have not been operational for long enough to determine significant trends.

Actions to improve air quality

Cheshire West and Chester Council has pursued a number of measures with the aim of delivering air quality improvements in the reporting year of 2018 – 2019. The Low Emission Strategy (LES) was published in September 2018 and work has started on a number of its constituent measures. The strategy covers a broad range of measures focused on modal shift, reduction of emissions from both vehicles and stationary sources and improvement areas such as electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and emissions from public transport / licensed vehicles. It is anticipated that the broad range of measures contained in the LES will deliver significant improvements in local air quality over time.

In support of the aspirations of the LES, the Council has committed significant resources from the Priority Outcomes Fund to undertake a public awareness campaign, accelerate the rollout of EV charging infrastructure, web site development and human resources. The new post of LES Officer has been created and the position filled from February 2019. A feasibility study focused on electric vehicle charge points (EVCP) across a range of local sectors has been completed and the Council is now working on the rollout of EVCPs, commencing with on-street residential / car park infrastructure.

Over the last five years, the Council successfully applied for grant funding to retrofit exhaust treatment technology to local buses operating in areas with some of the highest NO2 levels in the borough. To build on the success of the above, the Council submitted an application to the latest round of the Clean Bus Technology Fund (CBTF) in 2017 to retrofit 21 further buses with abatement technology for oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Unfortunately this application was unsuccessful.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 ii Cheshire West and Chester Council In 2017 the Council was invited to reapply for the Low Emission Bus Scheme (LEBS). This would have seen the conversion of the entire fleet of park and ride vehicles in Chester to fully electric vehicles. Unfortunately the bid ultimately had to be withdrawn as there were insurmountable contractual issues. However, the park and ride fleet is comprised of the latest Euro VI standard vehicles.

Under a four-year programme from late 2016, 20mph zones are being introduced to some 740km of roads across the borough. While the main impetus for the speed restrictions is road safety, studies show that 20mph speed restrictions can be beneficial in reducing oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from diesel engines and PM10 for both diesel and petrol engines. They are also effective in reducing particulate matter due to fewer acceleration / deceleration events. The fourth year of the programme is due to commence in summer 2019.

In 2018 the Council was successful in securing funding under the air quality grant scheme to research the health burdens of particulate matter both within and outside extant Smoke Control Areas (SCA), and gauge the potential benefits and practicalities of expanding the current coverage of SCAs in the borough.

The Council can now issue fixed penalty or parking charge notices to drivers who don’t switch off their idling engine when they’re asked to do so by an authorised officer. An accompanying media campaign known as ‘A breath of fresh air’ was launched to coincide with World Environment Day in early June 2019.

The Council supported the National Clean Air Day initiative on 20 June 2019. Alongside an active social media campaign encouraging people to contribute to the improvement of local air quality, the following took place:

 Enforcement officers visited two schools on the day, encouraging parents / carers to switch off their engines while parked

 The road safety team organised a walking bus in Hoole, Chester

 In common with 2018, free travel was provided on Chester’s park and ride services

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 iii Cheshire West and Chester Council Conclusions and priorities

No exceedances of the NO2 and PM10 objectives were identified outside any existing AQMAs in 2018.

Long term monitoring data shows that there are general downwards trends in ambient NO2 and PM10 across the borough. Annual mean NO2 in Chester remains significantly above the objective and being developed in the action plan for the area, as well as measures from the Low Emission Strategy, will be required to bring forwards compliance in coming years.

Monitoring results in the Ellesmere Port AQMA are below the air quality objective and it may be appropriate to revoke the AQMA. Also, the annual average NO2 objective was not exceeded in the Frodsham AQMA in 2018.

In the coming year, the Council’s priorities are to complete the Air Quality Action Plan for Chester; make progress with a number of measures in the LES; expand the availability of EVCPs in the borough; tackle emissions from idling vehicles; review the status of the AQMA in Ellesmere Port; complete work on the local SCA study and to take advantage of funding opportunities for the adoption of air quality improvement measures.

Local engagement and how to get involved

The Council’s 2018 Notice of Motion on air quality shows cross-party consensus that action needs to be taken to improve local air quality: “this Council ask Cabinet to:

 Review air quality monitoring across the borough

 Work to implement the actions identified in the recently published Low Emissions Strategy, including the enhancement of real time information; and

 Consider measures to improve air quality throughout the borough and in particular, outside of schools following the model of ‘Active Streets’ and ‘Healthy School Streets’ initiatives and working with schools, Community Safety Partnership and others to include a programme of education across all schools.

 Appoint a Leader’s Champion for Climate Change at the next Cabinet to oversee and drive forward policy in this important area of responsibility

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 iv Cheshire West and Chester Council  Set up a cross-party task force for Climate Change, which will be led by the appointed member (as above) to oversee a range of areas of policy across the council to include air quality and will provide political oversight and accountability in this area; and

 To work with partners in the public, private and voluntary sector to improve health outcomes for residents across the borough.”

There are many ways that we can all help to reduce outdoor air pollution:

 Leave your car at home and walk, cycle or use public transport instead. Car drivers can be exposed to significantly more air pollution than pedestrians or cyclists using the same streets

 When choosing your next car, consider alternatives to petrol and diesel such as electric cars or hybrids. Tailpipe emissions from these vehicles are much lower (or even zero) and running costs are significantly cheaper

 Switch your car’s engine off whenever you’re not moving and it’s safe to do so. You’ll improve air quality for yourself and others

 Keep your car regularly serviced and the tyres correctly inflated

 Adopt an efficient driving style – anticipate the road ahead, change up the gears earlier and brake smoothly. It could save you a lot of money over the course of a year

 Burning wood and other solid fuels produces a lot of air pollutants. If you do intend to buy a wood-burning stove, choose a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) approved model or an eco-design ready stove. Make sure that the wood you use meets the ‘Woodsure ready to burn’ requirements (seasoned dry wood with moisture content below 20%).

 Compost your garden waste or use green wheelie bins rather than burning it

Adults and children with lung problems and adults with heart problems may be particularly affected by air pollution. Information on local air quality is available on the Council’s website www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/airquality and further information on forecasting and health advice is available on Defra’s UK-air website https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/ .

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 v Cheshire West and Chester Council

Table of contents

Executive summary: air quality in our area...... i Air quality in Cheshire West and Chester ...... i Actions to improve air quality ...... ii Conclusions and priorities ...... iv Local engagement and how to get involved ...... iv 1 Local air quality management ...... 1 2 Actions to improve air quality ...... 2 2.1 Air quality management areas ...... 2 2.2 Progress and impact of measures to address air quality in Cheshire West and Chester ...... 4 2.2.1 Air quality measures ...... 4 2.2.2 Low emission strategy measures ...... 8

2.3 PM2.5 – Local authority approach to reducing emissions and/or concentrations ...... 18 3 Air quality monitoring data and comparison with air quality objectives and national compliance ...... 20 3.1 Summary of monitoring undertaken ...... 20 3.1.1 Automatic monitoring sites ...... 20 3.1.2 Non-automatic monitoring sites...... 21 3.2 Individual pollutants ...... 21

3.2.1 Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) ...... 21

3.2.2 Particulate matter (PM10) ...... 24

3.2.3 Particulate matter (PM2.5) ...... 25

3.2.4 Sulphur dioxide (SO2)...... 25 Appendix A: Monitoring results ...... 27 Appendix B: Full monthly diffusion tube results for 2018 ...... 50 Appendix C: Supporting technical information / air quality monitoring data QA/QC ...... 55 Appendix D: Maps of monitoring locations and AQMAs ...... 63 Appendix E: Summary of air quality objectives in England ...... 74 Appendix F: Inter-site comparisons ...... 75 Glossary of terms ...... 78

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 vi Cheshire West and Chester Council

List of Tables Table 1 Declared air quality management areas ...... 3 Table 2 Progress on measures to improve air quality ...... 12 Table 3 Details of automatic monitoring sites ...... 27 Table 4 Details of non-automatic monitoring sites ...... 28 Table 5 Annual mean NO2 monitoring results ...... 33 Table 6 One-hour mean NO2 monitoring results ...... 43 Table 7 Annual mean PM10 monitoring results ...... 44 Table 8 24-hour mean PM10 monitoring results ...... 46 Table 9 SO2 monitoring results ...... 48 Table 10 NO2 monthly diffusion tube results – 2018 ...... 50 Table 11 Annualisation factor 2018 (location GR) ...... 56 Table 12 National bias adjustment factor (v0319) ...... 59 Table 13 Calculation of local bias adjustment – Whitby Road ...... 60 Table 14 Calculation of local bias adjustment – Chester Bus Interchange ...... 61 Table 15 Calculation of distance from roads correction ...... 62 Table 16 Air quality objectives in England ...... 74

List of Figures

Figure 1 Long-term trends in annual mean NO2 at real-time sites ...... 39 Figure 2 Long-term trends in NO2 at Chester diffusion tube sites ...... 40 Figure 3 Long-term trends in NO2 at Ellesmere Port diffusion tube sites ...... 41 Figure 4 Long-term trends in NO2 at Frodsham diffusion tube sites ...... 42 Figure 5 Long-term trends in PM10 at real-time sites ...... 45 3 Figure 6 Trends in the number of 24-hour mean PM10 results greater than 50g/m 47 Figure 7 Long-term trends in SO2 at real-time sites ...... 49 Figure 8 Location of automatic monitoring station BO in Chester ...... 63 Figure 9 Location of automatic monitoring station CBI in Chester ...... 63 Figure 10 Location of automatic monitoring stations in Ellesmere Port ...... 64 Figure 11 Location of automatic monitoring station in Frodsham ...... 64 Figure 12 Location of automatic monitoring station in Thornton-le-Moors ...... 65 Figure 13 Location of automatic monitoring station in Elton ...... 65 Figure 14 Locations of diffusion tubes in Chester ...... 66 Figure 15 Locations of diffusion tubes in Chester ...... 66 Figure 16 Location of diffusion tubes in Upton, Chester ...... 67 Figure 17 Location of diffusion tubes in Christleton / Boughton ...... 67 Figure 18 Location of diffusion tube in Littleton ...... 68 Figure 19 Location of diffusion tubes in Ellesmere Port ...... 68 Figure 20 Location of diffusion tubes in Frodsham ...... 69 Figure 21 Location of diffusion tubes Northwich ...... 69 Figure 22 Location of diffusion tube in Rudheath ...... 70 Figure 23 Location of diffusion tube in Winsford ...... 70 Figure 24 Location of diffusion tube Hartford ...... 71 Figure 25 Location of diffusion tube in Lostock ...... 71 Figure 26 Location of diffusion tubes in Allostock ...... 72 Figure 27 Location of diffusion tube in Delamere ...... 72 Figure 28 Location of diffusion tube in Duddon ...... 73

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 vii Cheshire West and Chester Council

Figure 29 Location of diffusion tube in Wimboldsley ...... 73 Figure 30 Inter-site hourly NO2 comparisons 2018 (AQDM Ltd.) ...... 75 Figure 31 Inter-site daily PM10 comparisons 2018 (AQDM Ltd.) ...... 76 Figure 32 Inter-site 15-minute SO2 comparisons 2018 (AQDM Ltd.) ...... 77

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 viii Cheshire West and Chester Council

1 Local air quality management

This report provides an overview of air quality in Cheshire West and Chester during 2018. It fulfils the requirements of Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) as set out in Part IV of the Environment Act (1995) and the relevant policy and technical guidance documents.

The LAQM process places an obligation on all local authorities to regularly review and assess air quality in their areas, and to determine whether or not the air quality objectives are likely to be achieved. Where an exceedance is considered likely the local authority must declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) setting out the measures it intends to put in place in pursuit of the objectives. This Annual Status Report (ASR) is an annual requirement showing the strategies employed by the Council to improve air quality and any progress that has been made.

The statutory air quality objectives applicable to LAQM in England can be found in Table 16 in Appendix E.

The next scheduled LAQM report will be the 2020 ASR, which is due to be submitted by June 2020.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 1 Cheshire West and Chester Council

2 Actions to improve air quality 2.1 Air quality management areas

Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) are declared when there is an exceedance or likely exceedance of an air quality objective. After declaration, the authority must prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) within 12-18 months setting out measures it intends to put in place in pursuit of compliance with the objectives.

A summary of AQMAs declared by Cheshire West and Chester can be found in Table 1. Further information related to declared or revoked AQMAs, including maps of AQMA boundaries are available online at www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/aqmanagement

Alternatively, see Appendix D: Maps of monitoring locations and AQMAs, which provides maps of air quality monitoring locations in relation to the AQMAs.

The Chester city centre AQMA, which was declared in 2017, has a number of hotspots at which the annual objective of 40 micrograms per cubic metre (g/m3) is not met. An action plan is in the process of being developed for this area. The consultants have carried out a modelling exercise and delivered stakeholder workshops. A public consultation exercise will be carried out over the summer 2019.

Concentrations of NO2 at all monitoring sites in the Ellesmere Port AQMA were below the annual objective in 2018. This is consistent with recorded levels at residential properties in recent years so it would now be appropriate to determine whether there is a case for revocation of the AQMA.

The AQAP for the Frodsham AQMA was finalised in 2017, subjected to public consultation, submitted to Defra for approval in 2018 and adopted the same year.

The draft Thornton-le-Moors AQAP was also finalised in 2018, sent out for consultation and submitted to Defra. A number of measures have been progressed or completed since then.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 2 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Table 1 Declared air quality management areas AQMA Date of Pollutants City / One line Is air Level of exceedance Action plan name declaration and air town description quality (maximum quality influenced monitored/modelled objectives by concentration at a location Highways of relevant exposure) England At Now Name Date of Link roads? declaration publication 3 3 Chester May-17 NO2 Chester Inner ring No 50.3g/m 45.8g/m Chester city Due to be

city annual road and (micrograms centre air quality completed in

centre mean sections of per cubic action plan 2019 Liverpool Rd, metre) Parkgate Rd, Hoole Way, Boughton gyratory and Watergate St

Thornton- Sep-16 SO2 15- Thornton- An area No 56 66 Thornton-le- 2018 le-Moors minute le-Moors around the exceedances exceedances Moors air quality mean oil refinery at action plan Stanlow (draft)

3 3 Fluin Nov-15 NO2 Frodsham Junction of No 41.5g/m 38.0g/m Frodsham air 2018 Lane annual A56 and quality action mean Fluin La. plan

3 3 Whitby May-05 NO2 Ellesmere Residential No 44.5g/m 37.0g/m Ellesmere Port 2007 Road / annual Port properties on and Neston BC Station mean parts of air quality action Road Whitby Rd, plan Station Rd and Princes

www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/aqmanagement

☒ The Council confirms that the information on UK-Air regarding our AQMAs is up to date

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 3 Cheshire West and Chester Council

2.2 Progress and impact of measures to address air quality in Cheshire West and Chester

2.2.1 Air quality measures

The Council has taken forward a number of measures during the current reporting year of 2018 in pursuit of improving local air quality. Details of all measures completed, in progress or planned are set out in Table 2.

More detail on some of these measures can be found in their respective action plans. Key completed measures are:

 The Low Emission Strategy was published in September 2018 following a full public consultation exercise. It is anticipated that if fully implemented the broad range of measures contained in the LES will deliver significant improvements in local air quality over time. A summary of key measures is presented in 2.2.2 below

 The supplementary planning guidance on parking standards includes minimum specifications for the provision of on-site electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new developments. Full adoption of these requirements is dependent on production of the Local Plan (Part Two). At the time of writing, it is anticipated that the post-examination version will be adopted in late July

 An electric vehicle charging point (EVCPs) feasibility study has been undertaken and work has commenced on the rollout of EVCPs

 The borough-wide 20mph speed limit programme is progressing well with the final year of a four-year programme commencing in summer 2019

 The Council has approved the use of powers to require drivers of idling vehicles to switch off their engines while stationary. Enforcement officers are now authorised to issue fixed penalty notices / penalty charge notices to drivers refusing to comply

 A number of cycling and walking promotion initiatives are ongoing

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 4 Cheshire West and Chester Council

 Consultation phases of the AQAPs for both Thornton-le-Moors and Frodsham have been completed and the reports were submitted to Defra for approval in early 2018. The Frodsham AQAP has been finalised.

 Work on the sulphur recovery units at the refinery – which will allow isolation of operation of the paired units for maintenance purposes thereby reducing emissions – was completed in the 2018 turnaround

The Council expects the following measures to be completed over the course of the next reporting year:

 Implementation / progression with a wide range of LES measures

 Commencement of the rollout of a programme of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across a range of sectors

 Implementation of anti-idling enforcement programme to tackle emissions from idling vehicles. Schools and bus stand visits to be scheduled

 Progress with the de-SOx additive trial at the refinery site

 Procurement of a replacement air quality website providing public access to monitoring data and reports

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s priorities for the coming year are:

 Local air quality management obligations as set out above

 Progress with a range of measures in the LES

 Completion of AQAP for Chester city centre including full public consultation

 Replacement of the Council’s air quality website to improve public access to monitoring data, reports and advice

 To enhance the availability of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the borough

 Review the status of the AQAP in Ellesmere Port

 Progression of the local smoke control area (SCA) study

 To apply for and take advantage of funding opportunities that will enable the introduction of air quality improvement measures

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 5 Cheshire West and Chester Council

 To produce the 2020 annual status report

The principal challenges and barriers to implementation that the Council anticipates are: the continued failure of vehicle emission standards to deliver real-world reductions in tailpipe emissions; an increased market share in diesel vehicles in recent years; vehicle idling practices; slow uptake of ultra- low emission vehicles; environmental permitting regime for industrial sources.

Defra’s appraisal of last year’s ASR concluded that, “The report is well structured, detailed, and provides the information specified in the Guidance using the latest report template.” The main points for action were:

 Two Action Plans have been issued for Thornton le Moors and Frodsham and been reviewed by Defra in February 2018. It would be helpful if the Council can make clear whether these AQAPs have now been adopted  It is understood that a further AQAP is under development for Chester City during 2018. Full public consultation, including review by Defra will be required prior to completion  It is understood that the Council also expects to complete a Low Emission Strategy in 2018. This is welcomed, and it would be beneficial to include the summary details of the LES within the next ASR  We agree that the Ellesmere Port AQMA should be reviewed and considered for revocation  Frodsham AQMA has two results close to objective levels, and should continue to be monitored  We repeat the comment from the 2016 ASR which remain to be actioned: The ASR includes a detailed list of AQAP measures, but when there are four separate AQMAs, it is important to update Table 2.2 in relation to the measures that relate to each specific AQMA. Thus measures in this table should link back to measures as detailed within each AQAP. Generic measures applying to all AQMAs can be listed together, otherwise AQAP measures need to be listed under each AQAP

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 6 Cheshire West and Chester Council

 The latest results highlight there may be challenges ahead in relation to achieving the AQ objectives in the city of Chester where eight exceedances are located. It will be important to continue to monitor closely in Chester as a means of identifying pollution hotspots that can be targeted within future action plans  It will be important to ensure the Council engages closely with the transport authority at the early stages of the development of the action plan in order to consider feasible transport measures to address pollution hotspots within the city  The development of the Action Plan for central Chester should consider a re-evaluation of the source apportionment, identification of pollution hotspots, and quantification of the degree of emissions reductions required in order to meet air quality objectives, as a basis for developing a targeted set of measures for this area

Addressing each of these points in turn:

 The Frodsham AQAP was adopted in 2018. The Thornton-le-Moors AQAP remains in draft form as the trial of de-SOx additive is ongoing and the environmental permitting implications are to be determined by the EA

 Our appointed consultants are working on development of the AQAP for Chester. Defra will be included in the full public consultation exercise

 As noted elsewhere in this report, the LES has been published and a summary of measures is reproduced here in 2.2.2

 Monitored NO2 concentrations in the Ellesmere Port AQMA were all below the annual objective in 2018 so the status of the AQMA will be reviewed

 Monitoring has continued in the Frodsham AQMA. In 2018 all results were below the annual objective

 Table 2.2 (known as Table 2 in our report) does include reference to specific AQMAs. However, as agreed with the LAQM helpdesk, this has been made clearer in this year’s report. Measures identified in individual AQAPs are referenced alongside the ASR measure numbering

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 7 Cheshire West and Chester Council

 Monitoring of NO2 has been maintained across Chester. The number and locations of diffusion tube sites was critically assessed in our regular annual monitoring review which is conducted each December

 Workshops held for the development of the Chester AQAP included representatives from Transport

 The action plan project included a preliminary modelling study, updated from the one carried out prior to declaration of the AQMA in 2016. This includes source apportionment, identification of hotspots and quantification of emissions reductions required to meet the air quality objectives. Targeted measures will be developed taking these factors into account

Whilst the measures stated above and in Table 2 will help to contribute towards compliance, the Council anticipates that further additional measures not yet prescribed will be required in subsequent years to achieve compliance and enable the ultimate revocation of Chester city centre AQMA. The AQAP for Chester is expected to be published towards the end of 2019.

2.2.2 Low emission strategy measures

The Council published its low emission strategy (LES) in September 2019. It includes a wide range of measures and actions that are focussed on the reduction of emissions of NO2 and particulates across the borough. The majority of these will complement the aims of individual action plans.

The LES is based on three key principles:

 Shift: change mode from cars to public transport, cycling and walking

 Avoid: reduce vehicle kilometres driven, emissions from stationary vehicles, chimneys and construction

 Improve: improve vehicle technology to reduce emissions and focus specifically on low emission vehicles

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 8 Cheshire West and Chester Council

These are summarised below:

Shift

 Local Plan – Developments should provide access to local services and public transport, and maximise the use of sustainable modes of transport  Bus service subsidy – Seek to maintain the current level of subsidy and where possible enhance it by exploring other potential funding sources  Bus priority measures – Undertake an assessment of potential bus priority improvement measures for bus routes within AQMAs. Explore the use of community infrastructure levy (CIL) and other funding for tackling congestion hotspots on major bus routes. Utilise the powers provided under the Bus Services Act and explore the potential for enhanced bus quality partnerships to deliver infrastructure improvements for specific services  20mph zones – The existing plan to reduce targeted 30mph roads to 20mph is to be implemented as per the approved schedule. All residential roads in new developments shall have a 20mph speed limit where appropriate. Criteria shall be developed for this purpose  Cycling initiatives – Review potential cycle priority improvement measures for improving safe access of town centres, employment sites and other local services and prioritise delivery. Explore the use of CIL and other funding streams to enable improvements to be delivered. Develop and promote cycle- friendly culture  Walking initiatives – Review potential walking measures for improving safe access of town centres, employment sites and other local services and prioritise delivery. Explore the use of CIL and other funding streams to enable improvements to be delivered. Explore integrated travel pass potential  Awareness raising – Options for raising awareness of LES issues. A sustained Council campaign, providing clear and accurate information is essential

Avoid

 Local Plan – Requirement for air quality impact assessments in major developments in line with Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM) guidance

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 9 Cheshire West and Chester Council

 Development mitigation measures – Explore the use of damage cost calculations, best practice and incorporation into detailed policy  Control of dust during construction and demolition – Developers and contractors should identify and employ appropriate mitigation measures set out in IAQM guidance  Non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) – Investigate introduction of NRMM standards in line with Stage IIIA of the EU NRMM Regulation  Exposure reduction – Where new developments are introduced into areas where the air quality objectives are exceeded or are likely to be exceeded, developments should be designed to minimise exposure to poor air quality  Master planning – Design of developments should not inhibit dispersion of pollutants and should provide adequate, appropriate, and well located green space and infrastructure where possible  Clean air zones (CAZs) – Explore the feasibility of introducing CAZs within the borough  Anti-idling – Issue fixed penalty notices to drivers of idling vehicles who refuse request to switch off idling engines. Signage to support initiative

 SCAs – Use of SCAs to reduce PM10 and PM2.5 emissions. Conduct feasibility study on expansion of SCAs, policy for introduction of SCAs in new developments. Enforce and publicise

Improve

 Public charging network – To increase the availability of EVCPs across the borough through strategic assessment including future projections  Visitor and workplace charging – Installation of work place EVCPs at Council depot locations for fleet and at Council buildings for staff and visitor usage  Electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new development – Installation of EV charging infrastructure in new residential and commercial developments as standard in line with the local Parking Standards Guidance  On-street public charging network – Assessment of barriers to the provision of on-street EV charging infrastructure for residential properties, identify suitable delivery and charging models and implement accordingly

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 10 Cheshire West and Chester Council

 Public procurement of low emission vehicles – Robust lifetime cost comparison between ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) and non-ULEVs as part of the procurement process. Council’s evaluation framework for the procurement of vehicles to be revised to reflect total lifetime costs  Improve emissions from local bus fleet and promote use of ULEV buses – Work with local bus operators to help promote the use of low emission buses. Audit the age profile of local bus fleet  Electric buses on the park and ride service – Conversion of the park and ride fleet to electric vehicles and installation of associated infrastructure. Introduction of electric vehicles under the new park and ride contract (from 2020 or 2022)  Promote low emission taxis and private hire – Work with local operators to identify and, where possible, remove barriers limiting the use of ULEVs. Provide incentives to encourage ULEV use and explore funding opportunities  Business / freight policies – Work with commerce to improve emissions from delivery and service vehicles

 Health in all areas - Explore the lifecycle total cost of ownership approach beyond just vehicle procurement

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 11 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Table 2 Progress on measures to improve air quality

Measure Measure EU category EU Organisations Planning Implementation Key Reduction in Progress to date Estimated / Comments / barriers number4 classification involved and phase phase performance pollutant / actual to implementation funding indicator emission from completion source measure date 1 Low Policy Low The Council 2014 - 15 2015 -18 Adoption of Reduced vehicle Draft report 2018 Strategy published emissions guidance and emissions strategy and emissions produced. Public September 2018. Work strategy development strategy implementation borough-wide consultation on implementation of control of measures completed measures commenced. See section 2.2.2 above 2 Supplement Policy Air quality The Council 2014 2015-17 EV charging Reduced vehicle SPD complete. Complete Local plan part two ary planning guidance and planning and conditions emissions Local plan part two under examination document development policy included in adoption pending 2018/19. Adoption (SPD) on control guidance planning scheduled for July parking permissions 2019 standards 3 Electric Promoting low Procuring The Council 2017 / 2017/18 to Installation of Borough wide Feasibility study 2018 / 2019 Match capital funding vehicle emission alternative 2018 2022/23 infrastructure reduced vehicle completed. First staff main project secured for some charge transport refuelling emissions EVCPs installed delivered elements. Grant points infrastructure 2018 with funding to be sought across a to promote ongoing for on-street charging range of low emission support up sectors vehicles, EV to 2022 / recharging, 2023 gas fuel recharging 4 Clean Vehicle fleet Vehicle The Council 2014 2015 / 2016 / Services in Reduced Complete - seven 2018 Final three retrofits vehicle efficiency retrofitting 2018/19 operation in emissions on buses upgraded completed end of technology programmes Chester services running 2018/19. 2017 bid for fund (CVTF) though Chester an extra 21 retrofits for bus AQMA was unsuccessful engine retrofits 5 Bikeability Promoting Promotion of The Council Annual Ongoing Increase in Training is Ongoing. Subject to Ongoing DfT / Council funded campaign travel cycling number cyclists delivered annual project programmes ongoing – (schools and alternatives borough wide. review road safety team. Local adults only Benefits for all Sustainable Transport schemes) AQMAs Fund (LSTF) schemes complete

4 Note: in the first column, where applicable, numbers of specific AQAP measures are given alongside numbers for ASR measure

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 12 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Measure Measure EU category EU Organisations Planning Implementation Key Reduction in Progress to date Estimated / Comments / barriers number4 classification involved and phase phase performance pollutant / actual to implementation funding indicator emission from completion source measure date 6 Let's walk Promoting Promotion of The Council Annual Ongoing Improve Training is Ongoing. Subject to Ongoing Child training promotes travel walking pedestrian delivered annual project independence alternatives confidence to borough-wide. review encourage more Benefits for all sustainable trips AQMAs 7 Schools Promoting Promotion of The Council Annual Ongoing Improve Yes, borough- Ongoing. Subject to Ongoing Supporting vulnerable crossing travel walking pedestrian wide. Provided annual project road users cross the patrols alternatives confidence to at hazardous review highway – when encourage more school crossing arriving and leaving sustainable trips points educational establishments 8 Anti-idling Traffic Anti-idling The Council 2018 2018-19 Reduction of Borough-wide Powers to require Ongoing Regular patrols by enforcement management enforcement idling frequency reduced vehicle idling vehicles to enforcement officers. and complaints emissions switch off approved. Exploring potential for Enforcement officers targeted patrols at authorised. Signs schools, bus stands erected at bus etc. stands, taxi ranks and car parks 9 Taxi and Promoting low Taxi licensing The Council 2019 2019-20 Entry and exit Borough-wide Preparatory work 2020 Age policy fully private hire emission conditions ages of vehicles reduced vehicle 2019 implemented. Policy policy - transport enforced. ULEV emissions review in 2019-20 to ULEVs uptake stats encourage ultra low emission vehicles via LES 10 Highway Transport Cycle network Highways 2016 -17 2017-18 to be Reduce traffic Reduced vehicle Scheme Complete Providing crossing cycle planning and England in constructed between the E. emissions in implemented points and shared- use improvemen infrastructure partnership Port waterfront Ellesmere Port footpaths between t scheme at with the developments residential and M53 Council and town centre employment areas and Junction via AQMA. railway station nine 11 Improved Transport Cycle network The Council, 2016 - 2017-18 to Reduction in car Reduced vehicle Phase one Phase one Enhanced off-road cycling and planning and Cheshire East, 2017 2019-21 journeys emissions commenced 2019 due for walking and cycling walking infrastructure Warrington completion infrastructure in routes and Local 2019-20 Ellesmere Port and enterprise Chester partnership (local growth fund)

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 13 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Measure Measure EU category EU Organisations Planning Implementation Key Reduction in Progress to date Estimated / Comments / barriers number4 classification involved and phase phase performance pollutant / actual to implementation funding indicator emission from completion source measure date 12 Wales and Alternatives to Rail based Transport for Oct-18 15-year contract Increase in bus Reduce New tender awarded 15 year Station facilities at; borders rail. private vehicle park and ride Wales, rail and rail congestion in contract Chester, Neston, New and use franchise passengers AQMA by Helsby and Frodsham enhanced consortium reduced number private car. to be enhanced. With rail services of private single Reduced vehicle improved rail services, Improved occupancy emissions providing enhanced rail rail station vehicles. services, route facilities Increase in the planning, cycle number of facilities and journey people walking time. Potential for and cycling EVCPs in car parks through planning conditions 13 Borough- Traffic Other The Council 2016-17 2017 Council Rebalance Reduced vehicle Final parking 2017-32 Improved off-street wide parking management adopted strategy parking priorities emissions strategy adopted in 15-year enforcement strategy against supply borough wide 2017. First resultant delivery measures. Promote and demand action plan, focused time frame Chester park and ride while promoting on Frodsham, over other parking sustainable commences 2019 offers in Chester. transport modes Scope for incentivising EVs 14 20mph limits Traffic Reduction of The Council 2015 2016-20 Successful Reduced vehicle Scheme approved 2020 Promotes smoother on management speed limits, rollout of emissions January 2016. driving style. Emissions residential 20mph zones scheme over borough wide Rollout commenced reduction from vehicles streets four year in late 2016 should lead to overall (740km) programme emissions reduction. Fourth year of programme commencing summer 2019 15 Smart and Promoting Other Transport for 2017 2019-23. 2019 – Successful Yes, borough- Policy, processes 2023 roll- TfN working with the integrated travel the North major rollout of wide. and back office out across DfT, 19 local ticketing alternatives (TfN), Council conurbations scheme functionality the whole of authorities, five light across lead on behalf bus and light throughout the specified, with the north of rail operators, three public of Cheshire rail. 2020: minor north of England consultation England train operators and transport in and conurbations (including over 400 bus the north of Warrington bus and light Cheshire operators. Phase one England (all LEP rail. 2021: towns West and focus on rail followed rail, tram and trains. 2022- Chester) by buses and bus 2023 Full rollout operators) across the north

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 14 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Measure Measure EU category EU Organisations Planning Implementation Key Reduction in Progress to date Estimated / Comments / barriers number4 classification involved and phase phase performance pollutant / actual to implementation funding indicator emission from completion source measure date 16 Bus lane Traffic Strategic The Council 2017 2017 / 2018 Increase in bus Chester-wide ANPR cameras now 2019/20 enforcement management highway Implemented in passengers, installed in Chester improvements phased stages reduce number using reprioritising (subject to trial of private single automatic road space phase/period) occupancy number away from vehicles plate cars, including recognition access (ANPR) management, selective vehicle priority, bus priority, high vehicle occupancy lane 17 Bus Traffic Anti-idling The Council 2016 2017 onwards Compliance with Reduced vehicle 2017: requirement Ongoing Drivers must switch off interchange management enforcement conditions emissions in introduced in engines unless a conditions of Chester AQMA conditions of use departure is imminent. use Signage installed Spring 2019. Chester Bus Interchange (CBI) will be included in regular patrol route by enforcement officers 18 Video Traffic Urban Traffic The Council Early Autumn 2018 Measured Not applicable Video camera 2019 A video survey with Frodsham survey of the management Control 2018 Revised: Spring annual mean survey carried out at turning counts on A56 AQAP Fluin Lane (UTC), / Summer 2019 NO2 Fluin / Red Lane replaces need for video measure and Bears congestion concentrations junction surveys at Fluin and number 1 Paw management, in AQMA Bears Paw junctions junctions traffic reduction 19 Explore Traffic UTC, The Council 2018-19 2019-20 To be 1 µg/m3 Signage 2020 Highways advise that a Frodsham traffic management congestion determined enhancement TRO will not now be AQAP regulation management, scheme commenced required, the measure order (TRO) traffic preference being for a number 8 options for reduction signage enhancement restricting scheme warning HGVs drivers significantly in travelling advance of height / through the weight restrictions to AQMA and provide decision of Church selecting alternative Street routes

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 15 Cheshire West and Chester Council

22 Remove Environmental Measures to Essar refinery 2017 2018 onwards SO2 measured Reduction in 15- Trial in progress. To be Trial of ‘de-SOx’ Thornton sulphur permits reduce at CCU stack min New additive dosing confirmed additive on the catalytic AQAP compounds pollution exceedances to kit installed June cracking unit in measure in process through IPPC less than 35 per 2019 progress. New dosing number 1 permits going year. Potential kit should allow beyond BAT air quality improved performance benefit = data. Complexity of medium (in the setup means that the range of 25- trial needs extended 40%) timeframe to prove efficacy

23 Schedule Environmental Other Essar refinery Ongoing Ongoing SO2 measured Negligible Measure completed Ongoing Refinery uses weather Thornton maintenance permits at local AQ and operational data to plan AQAP / repair on monitoring maintenance / repair measure sulphur- stations on sulphur-critical plant number 2 critical plant to suit the weather 24 Isolation of Environmental Other Essar refinery 2017 Q1 2018 Reduced sour Negligible Complete. Installed Completed This allows one SRU to Thornton sulphur permits gas flaring during 2018 be shut down for AQAP recovery turnaround maintenance while measure units (SRU) keeping the other number 3 to allow online. Reduces sour independent gas flaring operation

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 16 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Notes:

The above table does not include Ellesmere Port AQAP measures, nor are additional measures planned, as recent monitoring results indicate the need for review of the status of the AQMA as it may qualify for revocation. However, measures rolled out through the LES will help to improve air quality in the area.

No measures are included for the Chester AQAP as it is currently under development with a view to finalisation later in 2019. The measures will thus be incorporated into next year’s ASR for reporting purposes.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 17 Cheshire West and Chester Council

2.3 PM2.5 – Local authority approach to reducing emissions and/or concentrations

As detailed in policy guidance LAQM.PG16 (Chapter 7), local authorities are expected to work towards reducing emissions and/or concentrations of PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5µm (micrometres) or less).

There is clear evidence that PM2.5 has a significant impact on human health, including premature mortality, allergic reactions, and cardiovascular diseases. Based on national estimates, the public health outcomes framework indicates that the fraction of mortality attributable to particulate matter in Cheshire West and Chester is 5.2% which is equivalent to some 161 premature deaths. This figure rises to 285 per year when the effects of NO2 are taken into account. Reductions in air pollution can therefore deliver significant improvements in local health outcomes.

The Council does not monitor PM2.5 as it is not currently a requirement of LAQM.

However, PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10μm or less) is recorded at four monitoring stations in the borough. Because PM2.5 is a subset of

PM10, it is possible to estimate the probable local levels by considering the ratio of the two fractions of particulate matter – as detailed in the technical guidance LAQM.TG16. Applying the nationally derived correction ratio of 0.7 to local data 3 suggests that local PM2.5 levels at local sites lie in the range 8.4 to 14.7g/m (micrograms per cubic metre), which is well below the national annual mean objective for background sites of 25g/m3 (to be met by 2020). In recognition of the close association between particulates and health, these figures may be used as a benchmark against which to gauge local improvements over time. There is an EU target value of 15% reduction at background urban locations between 2010 and 2020. Although this is not a requirement placed on local authorities, our long-term

PM10 monitoring suggests that there has been a reduction of 14% in PM2.5 between 2010 and 2017, which is on course to achieve the target.

National policy guidance assumes that local authorities will consider how to address

PM2.5 alongside other pollutants and that few standalone PM2.5 measures will need to be chosen unless they are needed to address a very specific local problem. So action to reduce PM10 and NO2 would usually contribute to the reductions in PM2.5. The Council is not, therefore, expected to be required to carry out additional local review and assessment (including monitoring).

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 18 Cheshire West and Chester Council

The Council is taking the following measures to address PM2.5: measures listed in

Table 2 above will contribute in general to improvements in levels of PM2.5. In September 2019 our low emission strategy (LES) was published. The aims of the strategy include tackling NO2, PM10 and PM2.5, with a focus on reducing emissions from road vehicles and supporting more sustainable modes of transport. The ultimate ambition is to improve the health of residents and reduce the number of deaths attributable to poor air quality that arise every year. The action toolbox, Table A.1 in

LAQM.TG16 lists a range of measures that can be implemented to tackle PM2.5 and many of these are incorporated into the LES. Examples include:

 Smoke control areas are in place in a number of the Borough’s urban areas and the LES includes a measure focused on exploring the feasibility of expanding SCAs and publicising health concerns related to domestic burning. A local study of SCAs and health impacts of domestic smoke has been commenced.

 The Council has a policy to reduce speed limits from 30mph to 20mph on residential roads, particularly around schools, one of the benefits of which is to reduce emissions through the encouragement of smoother driving styles.

 A reduction in vehicle idling will deliver an immediate improvement in air quality particularly in urban centres. In January 2019, the Council approved the use of powers to require drivers of idling vehicles to switch off their engines while stationary. Enforcement officers are now authorised to issue fixed penalty notices to drivers who refuse to do so.

 The hackney carriage / private hire vehicle age policy contained within the Council’s licensing policy ensures vehicles entering the system must be under five years old and will not be licensed after they have reached 10 years old; or 15 years old in the case of wheelchair accessible vehicles. In the Chester AQMA, all hackney carriages must be new at first registration. This rolling programme delivers a gradual improvement in vehicle emission standards over time. In order to further enhance this, the LES includes a measure looking at the incentivisation for the adoption of ULEVs in the taxi and private hire fleets.

The Environmental Protection team has a close working relationship with the Director of Public Health and will continue to work collaboratively to determine how air quality can be prioritised across a wide range of policy areas as well identifying specific measures to address PM2.5.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 19 Cheshire West and Chester Council

3 Air quality monitoring data and comparison with air quality objectives and national compliance 3.1 Summary of monitoring undertaken

This section sets out what monitoring has taken place and how it compares with national objectives.

3.1.1 Automatic monitoring sites

The Council undertook automatic (continuous) monitoring at seven sites during 2018. Table 3, Appendix A shows the details of all automatic monitoring sites.

NO2, NO (nitric oxide) and NOx (oxides of nitrogen) were measured using chemiluminescent analysers at five sites. These comprise three roadside sites: the bus interchange (CBI) in Chester and the roadside sites at Boughton in Chester and Whitby Road in Ellesmere Port (BO and WH); and the two background sites in

Frodsham and Thornton-le-Moors (FMH and TLP). NO2 was also monitored at roof- top level using the Opsis differential optical absorption spectrometer (DOAS) system at the Ellesmere Port urban background site (LR-JG).

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) was measured using ultra-violet (UV) fluorescence at monitoring stations in Elton (ELT) and Thornton-le-Moors (TLP), and also in Ellesmere Port (LR-JG) using DOAS, as above.

PM10 was measured at four sites; two of which, Frodsham (FMH) and Ellesmere Port (LR-JG), use tapered element oscillating microbalances (TEOMs), and two of which, Thornton-le-Moors (TLP) and CBI employ beta attenuation monitors (BAMs).

Note: local authorities do not have to report annually on the following pollutants: 1,3 butadiene, benzene, carbon monoxide and lead, unless local circumstances indicate there is a problem. These pollutants were assessed in detail in earlier rounds of LAQM and it was concluded that there would be no need to declare AQMAs for them. National monitoring results are available at https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/ , although there are no national network sites actually within the borough of Cheshire West and Chester.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 20 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Maps showing the location of the monitoring sites are provided in Appendix D: Maps of monitoring locations and AQMAs. Further details on how the monitors are calibrated and how the data has been adjusted are included in Appendix C.

3.1.2 Non-automatic monitoring sites

The Council undertook non- automatic (passive) monitoring of NO2 at 85 sites during

2018. Table 4, Appendix A shows the details of these sites. Of the suite of NO2 diffusion tube sites in use during 2017, five were discontinued and 22 new sites were established during 2018. Ten of the new sites are close to schools across the borough and were established in response to concerns raised by local ward members and school staff. The collocation exercise at the bus interchange, which opened in May 2017, was enhanced with a triplicate set of tubes for 2018.

Maps showing the locations of the monitoring sites are provided in Appendix D.

All tubes are prepared and analysed by Gradko International Ltd. According to the

Defra LAQM website, Gradko’s performance in the ‘AIR-PT’ NO2 proficiency testing scheme scored 100% satisfactory rating for all rounds in 2018. Further details on quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) for the diffusion tubes, including bias adjustments and any other adjustments applied (for example, annualisation and/or distance correction), are included in Appendix C.

3.2 Individual pollutants

The air quality monitoring results presented in this section are, where relevant, adjusted for bias, annualisation (in instances where the period of monitoring was less than nine months) and distance correction. Further details on adjustments are provided in Appendix C.

3.2.1 Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

Table 5 in Appendix A compares the ratified and adjusted monitored NO2 annual mean concentrations for the past five years with the air quality objective of 40µg/m3.

Note, results in this table show the levels of NO2 at the point of monitoring and do not take account of distance to relevant receptors.

For diffusion tubes, the full 2018 dataset of monthly mean values, including distance corrections, is provided in Appendix B (Table 10).

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 21 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Exceedances of the annual mean objective were recorded at a number of relevant locations in 2018, all of which lie within existing AQMAs. As no exceedances were recorded outside of AQMAs, there is no need to declare or extend AQMAs.

In 2018, annual mean NO2 at the real-time monitoring station CBI in Chester was 40g/m3 and at WH it was 37g/m3. Results for all other automatic monitoring stations were comfortably below the annual objective. It should be noted, however, that real-time monitoring stations are not necessarily in worst-case locations because of siting constraints.

A time series graph of local real-time NO2 monitoring compared with that from nearby national automatic urban and rural network (AURN) sites is shown in Figure 30.

Diffusion tubes are collocated with the automatic stations at Boughton, Chester (BO); the bus interchange in Chester (CBI) and Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port (WH). With the exception of BO, the collocated tubes are triplicates and the results are submitted to Defra annually to contribute to the calculation of national bias adjustment factors.

Diffusion tubes were used at 85 locations across the borough in 2018. The majority of these, 52, were sited within the Chester, Ellesmere Port and Frodsham AQMAs. Results presented in Table 10 in Appendix B have been annualised (where necessary), adjusted for bias using Defra’s national factor, and corrected for distance to relevant exposure (where necessary). The full dataset of monthly averages for 2018 is also displayed. Details of quality control and any adjustments that have been applied are given in Appendix C.

In 2018, at the point of monitoring, 13 tube sites recorded annual averages in excess of 40g/m3, but correcting for distance to the facade of the nearest relevant receptor (i.e. dwelling) there were six locations exceeding the objective although all were below 50g/m3. A further 10 locations were within 10% of the annual objective. Three of these sites; BJ, CBI and WG were only marginally below 40g/m3 and with rounding would be at the objective level.

On the whole, when compared to previous years, 2018 tube results are generally slightly lower. In 2017 eight results were above the objective (following distance correction) as compared to six in 2018. All six of these sites (C11, C36, OB, PG, RM and T6 ) are within the Chester city centre AQMA. All the remaining sites across the

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 22 Cheshire West and Chester Council borough, including those within the Ellesmere Port and Frodsham AQMAs, were below the objective.

Last year’s report and the 2017 report made reference to a potential exceedance on the A41 in Christleton (site MCC). The monitoring result for 2018 was below the national objective and it is not necessary to declare an AQMA.

Monitoring results at school premises were mostly in the range of 14 to 25g/m3 and therefore well below the national objective. The highest result at the point of monitoring, 42.4g/m3 was recorded at RPS near Rudheath Primary School. However, the tube is next to the busy A556 junction with Gadbrook Park and correcting for distance from the carriageway, the result at the school facade was 29.2g/m3. In the centre of Chester the annual average at the Love Street facade of the University Church Free School was calculated to be 31.4g/m3. The school lies within the existing AQMA so measures to improve air quality within this area will benefit the school.

Monitoring locations adjacent to the M6 motorway in Allostock returned annual results of 25.3g/m3 at site AP (southbound) and 19.4g/m3 at site AHH (northbound). These tubes were set up in response to long-term roadworks on a stretch of ‘smart motorway’, which is now completed. Both results remain comfortably below the annual objective.

Table 6, in Appendix A, compares the ratified continuous monitored NO2 hourly mean concentrations for the past five years with the air quality objective of 200µg/m3 (not to be exceeded more than 18 times per year). No exceedances of the hourly mean have been recorded in 2018. As stated in the LAQM.TG16 technical guidance, annual mean results from diffusion tubes may indicate a likely exceedance of the hourly objective if the annual mean is over 60g/m3. In 2018 no diffusion tube results were above 60g/m3 (the highest being 45.8g/m3 at a relevant receptor) so on the basis of monitoring it is highly unlikely that the hourly objective is exceeded anywhere in the borough. However, a 2019 modelling study conducted by consultants Bureau Veritas, in preparation for the Chester AQAP, predicted potential exceedances over a small discrete area adjacent to the inner ring road. This will be investigated through the deployment of additional diffusion tubes in the latter half of 2019.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 23 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Long term trends of NO2 monitoring results are shown in the graphs Figure 1 to Figure 4. For the majority of sites there is a discernible downward trend reflecting general improvements in NO2 concentrations over time. It is also clear from comparison of the graphs that the sites with the highest NO2 are all in Chester. [Note: the data shown in these graphs has been bias adjusted and annualised where necessary, but hasn’t been corrected for distance from kerb.]

3.2.2 Particulate matter (PM10)

Table 7 in Appendix A compares the ratified and adjusted PM10 annual mean concentrations for the past five years with the air quality objective of 40µg/m3. In

2018, PM10 was below the annual mean objective at all sites. It has not therefore been necessary to declare any AQMAs in respect of PM10. The highest monitored concentrations of PM10 are recorded at the recently established roadside site, CBI, sited at the bus interchange in Chester. This site lies within the Chester city centre AQMA. The annual mean of 21g/m3 is, however, well below the objective of 3 40g/m . All 2018 PM10 data has been independently ratified.

Table 8 in Appendix A compares the ratified continuous monitored PM10 24-hour mean concentrations for the past five years with the air quality objective of 50µg/m3. The only monitoring station which recorded exceedances of the daily mean limit value was CBI where the value was exceeded on four days. However, as there is an allowance of 35 days in any calenadr year, the objective itself was not exceeded.

Long term trends in annual PM10 monitoring are shown in Figure 5. It can be seen that there is a general downward trend in PM10 concentrations over time at some sites although at others the dataset isn’t large enough to determine a trend. Figure 6 shows the number of exceedances of the 24-hour mean objective since 2012. Although the number of exceedances is low, and has generally reduced over time, there were four exceedances at the CBI monitoring station in 2018.

A time series graph of daily mean PM10 at local monitoring sites is shown in Figure 31. The higher concentrations recorded by the CBI analyser are clearly shown.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 24 Cheshire West and Chester Council

3.2.3 Particulate matter (PM2.5)

The Council does not monitor PM2.5 as it is not currently a requirement of LAQM.

However, as PM2.5 is a constituent fraction of PM10, it is possible to estimate the probable local levels by considering the ratio of the two fractions of particulate matter, as detailed in the technical guidance LAQM.TG16. Applying the nationally derived correction ratio of 0.7 to local PM10 data suggests that local PM2.5 levels at monitoring sites lie in the range 8.4 to 14.7 g/m3, which is well below the national annual mean objective of 25g/m3. It should be noted, however, that the highest recording site, CBI, is not a background site.

3.2.4 Sulphur dioxide (SO2)

Table 9 in Appendix A compares the ratified, automatically monitored SO2 concentrations for 2018 with the three health-based air quality objectives for SO2.

In 2018 there were 66 occasions, spread over 14 days, when the 15-minute objective of 266g/m3 was exceeded in the village of Thornton-le-Moors (monitoring site TLP), and 25 such occasions (over a single day) in the village of Elton (monitoring site ELT). The objective allows for 35 exceedances in a calendar year so this remains non-compliant in Thornton-le-Moors. TLP lies within the AQMA and ELT is outside, less than a kilometre from the eastern edge of the AQMA.

The hourly mean standard was exceeded four times in Elton (on the same day as the episode above) and not at all in Thornton-le-Moors. As there is an annual exceedance allowance of 24 hourly periods, the objective was not exceeded.

The 24-hour standard was complied with at all monitoring stations during 2018.

th Figure 7 shows long term trends in SO2 using the 99.9 percentile values for each monitoring station. The graph also shows data for four former monitoring stations in Ellesmere Port, Helsby, Thornton-le-Moors and Frodsham (SG, HE, TLM and FMH), the details for which can be found in earlier LAQM reports. For most sites the monitoring period has not been long enough to determine an overall trend. However, at LR-JG in Ellesmere Port, the 99.9th percentiles have decreased gradually over time and remain comfortably below the national objective. Unlike other local real-time monitoring stations, data for LR-JG is unratified and therefore has provisional status.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 25 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Results for Thornton-le-Moors (at both TLM and TLP sites) have been above the national objective in each year of monitoring.

Figure 32 shows how local monitoring sites compare with regional AURN sites. The frequency of elevated SO2 readings at Thornton-le-Moors and Elton contrasts markedly with other monitoring sites in the region, reflecting the industrial nature of the sites.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 26 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Appendix A: Monitoring results

Table 3 Details of automatic monitoring sites Site Site Site type X grid Y grid Pollutants In Monitoring Distance to Distance to Inlet height code name reference reference monitored AQMA? technique relevant kerb of (m) exposure (m) nearest road (1) (m) (2)

BO Boughton Roadside 341864 366444 NO2 Yes Chemiluminescent 25.0 3.0 1.0

CBI Chester Roadside 340645 366802 NO2 PM10 Yes Chemiluminescent 5.1 6.6 1.6 BAM

ELT Elton Industrial 345642 375522 SO2 No UV-fluorescent 0 not applicable 2.0

FMH Frodsham Urban 352445 378031 NO2, PM10 No Chemiluminescent 24.0 7.0 2.5 background TEOM

LR-JG Library Urban 340258 376602 NO2 SO2 No DOAS / TEOM 10.0 not applicable 11.0 background 339947 375889 PM10 TLP Thornton- Industrial 344103 374330 NO2 SO2 Yes Chemiluminescent 38.0 not applicable 2.5 le-Moors PM10 UV-fluorescent BAM

WH Whitby Roadside 340197 376363 NO2 Yes Chemiluminescent 15.0 2.5 3.5 Rd

Notes: (1) 0m if the monitoring site is at a location of exposure (for example, installed on the facade of a residential property)

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 27 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Table 4 Details of non-automatic monitoring sites Site ID Site name Site type X grid Y grid Pollutants In Distance to Distance Tube Height reference reference monitored AQMA? relevant to kerb of collocated (m) exposure nearest with a (m) (1) road (m) (2) continuous analyser?

AHH Holly House Other 373255 371475 NO2 No 0 68 No 2

AP Pine Cottage Roadside 373386 371500 NO2 No 0.0 34.0 No 1.8

BE Bedward Row Roadside 340239 366418 NO2 Yes 0.5 2.4 No 2.4

BJ Backpackers Jade Roadside 341401 366512 NO2 Yes 0.5 2.5 No 2.4

BO Boughton RTA Roadside 341864 366444 NO2 Yes 25.0 2.0 No 2.5

C11 Christleton Road (11) Roadside 341915 366427 NO2 Yes 0.0 1.0 No 2.0

C36 Christleton Road (36) Roadside 342000 366374 NO2 Yes 0.5 1.4 No 2.5

C75 Christleton Road (75) Roadside 342056 366354 NO2 Yes 0.5 2.0 No 2.5

CAN Canal Street Roadside 340375 366730 NO2 Yes 1 1.5 No 3

CBI Chester Bus Interchange Roadside 340647 366803 NO2 Yes 5.1 6.6 Yes 1.6

CFL Church Street (Lower) Roadside 351762 377862 NO2 No 4.8 1 No 2.2

CM Christleton Mill Roadside 343761 365528 NO2 No 0 5 No 2.2

CN Chesterway (62) Kerbside 366070 373905 NO2 No 3.8 1.6 No 3.0

CP3 Canal Place (3) Roadside 343970 365295 NO2 No 4 2.3 No 2.4

CPL Plough Lane Roadside 344377 365374.6 NO2 No 1.1 0.7 No 2.1

CVR Caldy Valley Road Roadside 342930 365901 NO2 No 3.5 3 No 2.1

DEL Delamere School Roadside 355255 368416 NO2 No 10 2.1 No 2

DSP Duddon St Peters Roadside 351627 364552 NO2 No 1.9 2.8 No 2

EB Boughton Edgeley Roadside 341658 366487 NO2 Yes 0.0 2.0 No 2.5

FGS Foregate St Roadside 340859 366388 NO2 Yes 50 1 No 2.2

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 28 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Site ID Site name Site type X grid Y grid Pollutants In Distance to Distance Tube Height reference reference monitored AQMA? relevant to kerb of collocated (m) exposure nearest with a (m) (1) road (m) (2) continuous analyser?

FH High Street (72) Roadside 352146 378139 NO2 Yes 0.2 2.0 No 2.5

FJ Fluin Junction Roadside 352171 378140 NO2 Yes 0.5 2.0 No 2.5

FM Fluin Lane (Manor Farm) Roadside 352189 378094 NO2 Yes 0.3 2.0 No 2.5

FRC Rock Cottage High Street Roadside 352023 378121 NO2 No 1.3 1.6 No 2.5

FT Fluin Lane (terrace) Roadside 352176 378105 NO2 Yes 0.2 1.7 No 2

FTG Trinity Gardens Roadside 351993 378102 NO2 No 4.5 0.8 No 2.5

GB Greenbank Lane Roadside 364619 372594 NO2 No 8 0.7 No 2

GE George Street (S) Roadside 340657 366730 NO2 Yes 1 5 No 2.4

GR Griffiths Road Roadside 368634 374714 NO2 No 0.2 8 No 1.8

GSW Gorse Stacks (Waterside) Roadside 340700 366687 NO2 Yes 1 1.6 No 2.1

GT George Street (N) Roadside 340611 366747 NO2 Yes 0 1.9 No 2.6

HB Hoole Lane - Boughton Roadside 341605 366527 NO2 Yes 3 1.2 No 2.4

HHS Helsby Hillside School Roadside 349518 375954 NO2 No 8 2.3 No 2

HO Hoole Road Roadside 341311 367207 NO2 No 0 7.1 No 1.9

HW Hoole Way Roadside 340881 366826 NO2 Yes 1 1.9 No 2.4

IC Ingham Close Roadside 342068 366332 NO2 Yes 2.0 2.0 No 2.0

KR King St. Rudheath Roadside 368432 372988 NO2 No 4.5 2.2 No 2.0

LH Lincoln House Roadside 341126 366540 NO2 Yes 3.0 2.0 No 3.0

LI2 Liverpool Road Roadside 340354 367034 NO2 Yes 7.0 2.5 No 2.2

LU Lumley Place Roadside 340838 366215 NO2 Yes 0 9.4 No 2.1

LVR Love St Residential Roadside 340980 366315 NO2 Yes 0 1.8 No 2.2

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 29 Cheshire West and Chester Council

LVS Love St School Roadside 340990 366317 NO2 Yes 8 1.8 No 2.2

MCC Mill Cottages (A41) Roadside 343785 365502 NO2 No 0.5 2.4 No 2

MOS Moston Road Roadside 341245 369610 NO2 No 1.2 2.2 No 2.1

NCS New Crane St Roadside 339857 366460 NO2 No 0 1.8 No 2

NIN Nicholas St (North) Roadside 340284 366199 NO2 Yes 0 3 No 2.3

NIS Nicholas St (South) Roadside 340329 366114 NO2 Yes 0 4.3 No 2.2

NS Newsagent Station Rd Roadside 340406 376724 NO2 Yes 2.0 4.0 No 2.0

NSR Station Road Roadside 366796 373984 NO2 No 0.6 1.7 No 2

NWH Winnington Hill Roadside 365590 373904 NO2 No 2.4 0.7 No 2.4

OB Boughton (105) Roadside 341633 366510 NO2 Yes 0.6 2.5 No 2.5

OF St Oswald’s - Fountains Roadside 340453 366853 NO2 Yes 4 4.8 No 3

OP Oulton Place Roadside 340636 366770 NO2 Yes 0 1.6 No 2.1

OSJ Over St Johns School Roadside 363781 366198 NO2 No 2.3 3.1 No 2.2

OW St Oswald’s Way Roadside 340623 366823 NO2 Yes 2.3 2.3 No 2.3

PA Parkgate Rd (19) Roadside 340313 367014 NO2 Yes 2.4 0.8 No 2.4

PG Parkgate Road (5) Roadside 340322 366989 NO2 Yes 0.2 1.8 No 2.0

RM Rock Mount Roadside 340291 367108 NO2 Yes 0.0 3.8 No 2.2

RPS Rudheath Primary School Roadside 367856 372667 NO2 No 19 5.2 No 1.8

RR Richfield Recruitment Roadside 340180 376338 NO2 Yes 3.0 2.1 No 2.5

SA Samaritans Roadside 340364 366929 NO2 Yes 0.2 2.5 No 2.5

SF Station Road Flats Roadside 341238 366976 NO2 No 0 3.2 No 2.2

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 30 Cheshire West and Chester Council

SM St Martins Way Roadside 340224 366599 NO2 Yes 1.2 2.2 No 2.4

SR Station Rd Roadside 340435 376790 NO2 Yes 0.0 1.6 No 2.5

ST St Anne’s Place Kerbside 340794 366778 NO2 Yes 18.4 0.1 No 2.2

SV2 South View Road Roadside 339836 366620 NO2 No 0.4 1.5 No 1.9

SV3 South View Road Roadside 339859 366620 NO2 No 0.6 1.6 No 2

SZ Specialized Roadside 341819 366475 NO2 Yes 0.5 2.0 No 2.5

T11 Tarvin Road (11 gable) Roadside 341931 366458 NO2 Yes 2.7 1.5 No 2.1

T44 Tarvin Road (44) Roadside 342085 366446 NO2 Yes 3.5 1.0 No 2.5

T6 Tarvin Road (6) Roadside 341926 366446 NO2 Yes 0.2 2.0 No 2.0

TA Tarvin Road (52) Roadside 344519 366898 NO2 No 6.0 2.0 No 2.0

TB The Bars Roadside 341202 366470 NO2 Yes 2.0 1.0 No 2.5

TE Temple Bar PH Roadside 340739 366504 NO2 No 0 1.8 No 2

UCA U of C Academy Roadside 339687 375972 NO2 No 4.6 2.4 No 2.4

UHS Upton High School Roadside 342010 369154 NO2 No 2.9 3.0 No 2.1

UN Upper Northgate St (44) Roadside 340357 366960 NO2 Yes 0.2 3.0 No 2.2

VRC Village Road Roadside 344129 365614 NO2 No 0 2 No 2.1

W23 Whitchurch Road (23) Roadside 343728.6 365561 NO2 No 3 5 No 2.5

WCR Whitchurch Road Roadside 342951 366029 NO2 No 7.2 1.5 No 2

WG Watergate St Roadside 340217 366209 NO2 Yes 0.2 1.5 No 2.0

WGW Watergate - Walls Roadside 340165 366198 NO2 Yes 0 2.2 No 2.2

WH Whitby Road Roadside 340196 376363 NO2 Yes 32.0 1.2 Yes 3.5

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 31 Cheshire West and Chester Council

WIM Wimboldsley Primary Roadside 368933 363614 NO2 No 6 1.7 No 1.2

XR Boughton Heath Roadside 343117 365949 NO2 No 4.5 3.2 No 2 roundabout

Notes: (1) 0m if the monitoring site is at a location of exposure (for example, installed on/adjacent to the facade of a residential property)

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 32 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Table 5 Annual mean NO2 monitoring results

3 (3) Site ID Site type Monitoring Valid data Valid data NO2 Annual mean concentration (µg/m ) type capture for capture monitoring 2018 (%) (2) (1) 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 period (%) BO Roadside Automatic 96.1 96.1 32 30 29 27 25 CBI Roadside Automatic 99.4 99.4 40 40 FMH Urban background Automatic 99.6 99.6 19 15 16 14 14 LR-JG Urban background Automatic 99.8 99.8 22 20 22 20 19 TLP Industrial Automatic 95.5 95.5 16 16 13 13 WH Roadside Automatic 99.7 99.7 41 40 40 36 37 AHH Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 21.5 17.7 19.4 AP Roadside Diffusion tube 83 83 31.2 28.3 25.3 BA Roadside Diffusion tube 41.3 BA2 Roadside Diffusion tube 28.8 BE Roadside Diffusion tube 75 75 41.9 38.3 40.2 37.5 33.8 BJ Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 38.3 37.5 39.0 38.7 39.5 BO Roadside Diffusion tube 83 83 32.5 30.5 30.5 29.2 28.7 BZ Roadside Diffusion tube 27.3 C11 Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 45.4 43.0 43.3 43.0 41.1 C36 Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 54.1 50.6 51.5 50.8 47.6 C75 Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 29.0 27.7 30.4 26.9 27.2 CAN Roadside Diffusion tube 75 75 25.1 32.6 CBI Other Diffusion tube 100 100 44.6 38.9 CE Roadside Diffusion tube 14.5 CFL Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 31.9 29.4 31.3 30.4 30.5

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 33 Cheshire West and Chester Council

3 (3) Site ID Site type Monitoring Valid data Valid data NO2 Annual mean concentration (µg/m ) type capture for capture monitoring 2018 (%) (2) (1) 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 period (%) CIN Roadside Diffusion tube 29.1 29.5 CIS Roadside Diffusion tube 30.9 28.0 CM Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 30.8 33.9 CN Roadside Diffusion tube 75 75 33.0 CP3 Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 31.9 31.3 CPL Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 19.0 CVR Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 30.3 30.2 DEL Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 20.2 DSP Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 25.3 EB Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 36.7 34.2 34.8 34.5 31.6 FGS Roadside Diffusion tube 75 75 31.7 27.2 28.9 FH Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 41.9 39.7 44.2 39.4 38.5 FJ Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 42.6 41.3 42.2 40.5 38.2 FM Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 36.6 32.9 36.5 33.2 35.0 FRC Roadside Diffusion tube 83 83 34.0 FT Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 36.3 33.9 34.9 34.2 32.1 FTG Roadside Diffusion tube 83 83 33.2 FV Roadside Diffusion tube 21.4 21.3 FW Roadside Diffusion tube 19.1 GB Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 17.3 GD Roadside Diffusion tube 34.1 32.3 33.9 GE Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 27.4 24.8 26.9 32.0 GI Roadside Diffusion tube 35.4 32.6 34.8 33.4

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 34 Cheshire West and Chester Council

3 (3) Site ID Site type Monitoring Valid data Valid data NO2 Annual mean concentration (µg/m ) type capture for capture monitoring 2018 (%) (2) (1) 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 period (%) GR Roadside Diffusion tube 100 67 24.1 GSW Roadside Diffusion tube 83 83 27.5 27.8 33.3 34.3 GT Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 26.1 34.1 HB Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 37.7 33.6 33.7 32.9 32.0 HC Roadside Diffusion tube 42.2 35.9 HHS Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 22.7 HO Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 31.7 HSN Roadside Diffusion tube 36.1 32.3 HT Roadside Diffusion tube 22.9 HW Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 41.2 37.8 39.9 36.0 35.8 IC Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 37.1 37.3 38.5 36.7 34.5 KR Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 35.0 33.6 35.2 33.9 32.0 LH Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 38.0 37.0 38.4 39.2 36.9 LI2 Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 37.8 35.5 39.4 39.7 38.6 LU Roadside Diffusion tube 83 83 27.9 27.0 LVR Roadside Diffusion tube 75 75 40.8 35.9 36.5 LVS Roadside Diffusion tube 83 83 39.1 36.0 31.4 MCC Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 41.8 38.1 44.5 40.8 38.0 MOS Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 28.1 NA Roadside Diffusion tube 31.1 NCS Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 30.5 NIN Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 39.1 39.8 34.7 NIS Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 22.6 28.6 31.7

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 35 Cheshire West and Chester Council

3 (3) Site ID Site type Monitoring Valid data Valid data NO2 Annual mean concentration (µg/m ) type capture for capture monitoring 2018 (%) (2) (1) 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 period (%) NS Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 39.4 35.9 36.2 35.0 32.4 NSR Roadside Diffusion tube 75 75 38.0 NT Roadside Diffusion tube 28.6 NWH Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 41.5 OB Roadside Diffusion tube 83 83 43.2 40.7 41.2 39.8 44.8 OF Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 37.4 35.7 38.8 35.3 34.3 OP Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 28.3 32.1 OSJ Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 20.8 OW Roadside Diffusion tube 75 75 42.0 43.2 51.0 51.8 43.6 PA Roadside Diffusion tube 75 75 41.8 41.1 42.3 42.7 41.2 PG Roadside Diffusion tube 75 75 48.0 42.2 46.9 46.0 45.2 QS Roadside Diffusion tube 30.4 26.8 RM Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 45.6 39.9 43.1 41.3 45.7 RPS Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 42.4 RR Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 42.1 39.1 39.9 36.8 36.5 SA Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 42.1 38.5 39.8 36.9 37.7 SB Roadside Diffusion tube 31.8 SCN Roadside Diffusion tube 22.5 SCS Roadside Diffusion tube 34.5 30.8 SF Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 32.3 33.3 SL Roadside Diffusion tube 17.6 SM Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 30.9 29.5 32.1 27.7 25.2 SR Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 38.4 35.7 36.5 34.3 33.8

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 36 Cheshire West and Chester Council

3 (3) Site ID Site type Monitoring Valid data Valid data NO2 Annual mean concentration (µg/m ) type capture for capture monitoring 2018 (%) (2) (1) 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 period (%) ST Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 44.6 42.4 SV2 Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 25.4 SV3 Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 24.8 26.0 SZ Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 39.0 36.8 36.3 36.4 36.1 T11 Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 32.0 31.8 T25 Roadside Diffusion tube 30.6 T44 Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 46.1 41.5 42.8 40.2 39.2 T6 Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 53.0 49.1 50.3 45.5 43.6 TA Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 47.4 44.5 TB Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 41.2 40.1 38.7 36.0 36.7 TE Roadside Diffusion tube 83 83 21.7 25.3 TG Roadside Diffusion tube 32.8 31.7 UCA Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 28.6 UHS Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 26.4 UN Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 41.1 38.5 40.1 36.8 38.1 VRC Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 18.2 W23 Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 29.2 33.1 WCR Roadside Diffusion tube 92 92 41.1 39.0 WG Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 44.9 41.3 43.5 42.8 39.8 WGW Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 38.8 33.6 37.1 33.3 33.7 WH Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 36.3 34.7 34.4 32.3 35.7 WIM Roadside Diffusion tube 100 100 31.7 WT Roadside Diffusion tube 39.7 39.5

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 37 Cheshire West and Chester Council

☒ Diffusion tube data has been bias corrected ☒ Annualisation has been conducted where data capture is <75%

Notes: 3 Exceedances of the NO2 annual mean objective of 40µg/m are shown in bold. 3 NO2 annual means exceeding 60µg/m , indicating a potential exceedance of the NO2 one-hour mean objective are shown in bold and underlined. (1) Data capture for the monitoring period, in cases where monitoring was only carried out for part of the year. (2) Data capture for the full calendar year (if monitoring was carried out for six months, the maximum data capture for the full calendar year is 50%). (3) Means for diffusion tubes have been corrected for bias. All means have been annualised as per Boxes 7.9 and 7.10 in LAQM.TG16 if valid data capture for the full calendar year is less than 75%. See Appendix C for details. (4) Annual mean not reported as data capture was for a single month.

Note, results in the above table show the levels of NO2 at the point of monitoring and do not take account of distance to relevant receptors.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 38 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Figure 1 Long-term trends in annual mean NO2 at real-time sites

National 40 objective

CBI

(micrograms per cubic metre) cubic per (micrograms

2 20 WH NO BO 10 LR-JG

FMH 0 TLP 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 39 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Figure 2 Long-term trends in NO2 at Chester diffusion tube sites

) 3

g/m 50



(

2 Annual 40 objective

30 Nitrogen dioxide NO dioxide Nitrogen 20 C36

T6 10 PG

C11 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 WG Year OW

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 40 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Figure 3 Long-term trends in NO2 at Ellesmere Port diffusion tube sites

) 3

g/m 50



( 2 2 Annual 40 objective

30 Nitrogen dioxide NO dioxide Nitrogen 20

NS 10 RR

0 SR 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 WH Year WW

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 41 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Figure 4 Long-term trends in NO2 at Frodsham diffusion tube sites

70.0

60.0

)

3 g/m

 50.0

( 2 2

Annual 40.0 objective

30.0 Nitrogen dioxide NO dioxide Nitrogen

20.0

CFL 10.0 FH

FJ 0.0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 FM

Year FT

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 42 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Table 6 One-hour mean NO2 monitoring results 3 (3) Site ID Site type Monitoring Valid data capture Valid data NO2 1-hour means > 200µg/m type for monitoring capture period (%) (1) 2018 (%) (2) 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

BO Roadside Automatic 96.1 96.1 0 0 0 0 0 CBI Roadside Automatic 99.4 99.4 0 0 FMH Urban Automatic 99.6 99.6 0 0 0 0 0 Background (99.8) LR-JG Urban Automatic 99.8 99.8 0 0 0 0 0 Background TLP Industrial Automatic 95.5 95.5 0 0 0 0 WH Roadside Automatic 99.7 99.7 0 0 0 0 0

Notes: 3 Exceedances of the NO2 1-hour mean objective (200µg/m not to be exceeded more than 18 times a year) are shown in bold. (1) Data capture for the monitoring period, in cases where monitoring was only carried out for part of the year. (2) Data capture for the full calendar year (if monitoring was carried out for six months, the maximum data capture for the full calendar year is 50%). (3) If the period of valid data was less than 85%, the 99.8th percentile of 1-hour means is provided in brackets.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 43 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Table 7 Annual mean PM10 monitoring results 3 (3) Site ID Site type Valid data capture for Valid data capture PM10 Annual mean concentration (µg/m ) monitoring period (%) (1) 2018 (%) (2) 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 CBI Roadside 91.3 91.3 21 21

FMH Urban 87.2 87.2 15 15 14 13 16 Background LR Urban 84.7 84.7 16 13 12 12 12 Background TLP Industrial 98.1 98.1 15 16 13 13

☒ Annualisation has been conducted where data capture is <75%

Notes: 3 Exceedances of the PM10 annual mean objective of 40µg/m are shown in bold. (1) Data capture for the monitoring period, in cases where monitoring was only carried out for part of the year. (2) Data capture for the full calendar year (if monitoring was carried out for six months, the maximum data capture for the full calendar year is 50%). (3) All means have been annualised, as per Boxes 7.9 and 7.10 in LAQM.TG16, where valid data capture for the full calendar year is less than 75%. See Appendix C for details.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 44 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Figure 5 Long-term trends in PM10 at real-time sites

Annual

40 objective

g/m3) 

20 micrograms per cubic metre(

10 PM FMH 10 TLP

CBI 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Year

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 45 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Table 8 24-hour mean PM10 monitoring results 3 (3) Site ID Site type Valid data capture for monitoring Valid data capture PM10 24-hour means > 50µg/m period (%) (1) 2018 (%) (2) 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

CBI Roadside 91.3 91.3 8 4 Urban 87.2 87.2 0 1 0 0 0 FMH background Urban 84.7 84.7 1 0 0 0 0 LR background TLP Industrial 98.1 98.1 0(22) 0 2 0

Notes: 3 Exceedances of the PM10 24-hour mean objective (50µg/m not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year) are shown in bold. (1) Data capture for the monitoring period, in cases where monitoring was only carried out for part of the year. (2) Data capture for the full calendar year (if monitoring was carried out for six months, the maximum data capture for the full calendar year is 50%). (3) If the period of valid data is less than 85%, the 90.4th percentile of 24-hour means is provided in brackets.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 46 Cheshire West and Chester Council

3 Figure 6 Trends in the number of 24-hour mean PM10 results greater than 50g/m

National

35 objective

g/m3  30

hr hr means>50 25 -

LR PM10, PM10, number24 of

10 8 FMH 7 6 5 4 TLP 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 CBI 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

Note: Objective allows 35 exceedances of 50g/m3 per year

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 47 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Table 9 SO2 monitoring results Site ID Site type Valid data capture Valid data capture Number of exceedances 2018 for monitoring 2018 (%) (2) (percentile in bracket) (3) period (%) (1) 15-minute Hourly 24-hour objective objective objective (266 µg/m3) (350 µg/m3) (125 µg/m3) ELT Industrial 87.7 87.7 25 4 0

LR-JG Urban 99.8 99.8 0 0 0 background TLP Industrial 97.0 97.0 66 0 0

Notes:

Exceedances of the SO2 objectives are shown in bold (15-min mean = 35 allowed a year, hourly mean = 24 allowed a year, 24-hour mean = three allowed a year) (1) Data capture for the monitoring period, in cases where monitoring was only carried out for part of the year. (2) Data capture for the full calendar year (if monitoring was carried out for six months, the maximum data capture for the full calendar year is 50%). (3) If the period of valid data is less than 85%, the relevant percentiles are provided in brackets.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 48 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Figure 7 Long-term trends in SO2 at real-time sites

450

TLM

400

)

3 g/m

 350

(

2 TLP

300 National objective

250 minute mean SO - ELT

200 TLM

150 TLP

HE ELT 99.9th percentile 15 of 100 HE

LR-JG SG 50 SG LR-JG FMH FMH 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Year

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 49 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Appendix B: Full monthly diffusion tube results for 2018

Table 10 NO2 monthly diffusion tube results – 2018 3 Site ID NO2 mean concentrations (µg/m ) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual mean Raw Bias Distance data adjusted corrected (0.93 to nearest factor) and exposure annualised (2) (1) AHH 23.4 28.0 23.5 22.7 20.7 13.2 16.2 15.4 14.4 21.3 27.1 24.0 20.8 19.4 19.4 AP 30.3 32.9 17.3 25.0 23.8 23.2 29.5 30.9 void 28.4 void 31.1 27.3 25.3 25.3 BE 40.4 37.3 36.4 37.4 37.9 33.9 missing 29.2 37.0 missing 37.7 missing 36.3 33.8 33.8 BJ 37.0 38.1 46.9 41.1 49.9 45.7 40.5 39.4 41.6 43.8 39.8 46.6 42.5 39.5 39.5 BO 36.0 35.4 32.6 26.2 30.3 28.1 27.0 missing 27.9 33.6 31.3 void 30.8 28.7 28.7 C11 38.8 38.8 50.3 45.8 51.6 49.7 40.2 33.1 38.6 48.2 46.4 48.5 44.2 41.1 41.1 C36 72.2 53.1 42.9 44.0 49.2 51.2 46.0 42.2 53.2 52.6 53.0 54.3 51.2 47.6 45.8 C75 30.2 35.8 32.4 26.4 missing 27.7 27.6 19.9 22.4 32.7 36.2 30.4 29.3 27.2 27.2 CAN missing missing missing 31.7 38.1 32.3 30.7 31.6 32.3 35.2 42.1 41.1 35.0 32.6 32.6 CBI1 44.3 52.7 47.2 42.8 39.7 34.9 38.8 35.4 42.1 44.6 43.7 39.4 42.1 39.2 39.2 CBI2 46.6 48.8 44.9 40.4 41.8 37.3 40.8 30.3 41.1 47.7 42.6 43.6 42.2 39.2 39.2 CBI3 51.7 55.8 47.0 44.4 43.0 38.8 39.1 35.5 42.0 47.2 39.4 43.7 44.0 40.9 40.9 CFL 31.1 38.8 29.4 30.6 37.6 37.3 34.8 25.7 26.6 32.7 33.5 35.6 32.8 30.5 30.5 CM 37.2 38.9 38.3 36.2 38.6 34.7 34.6 30.4 35.0 41.2 34.2 38.0 36.4 33.9 33.9 CN 39.4 40.3 35.2 34.3 30.9 31.0 missing 31.1 30.6 missing missing 46.4 35.5 33.0 27.1 CP3 32.9 37.3 31.7 11.3 34.3 34.3 37.1 31.2 36.6 46.9 36.4 33.9 33.7 31.3 31.3

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 50 Cheshire West and Chester Council

3 Site ID NO2 mean concentrations (µg/m ) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual mean Raw Bias Distance data adjusted corrected (0.93 to nearest factor) and exposure annualised (2) (1) CPL 21.2 22.8 24.0 18.4 20.4 18.2 19.4 14.3 18.2 23.2 22.9 22.3 20.4 19.0 17.5 CVR 35.0 37.8 30.5 32.9 missing 30.5 30.7 21.2 38.2 33.2 37.2 30.5 32.5 30.2 30.2 DEL 23.0 21.8 26.1 19.0 23.2 22.2 19.5 18.0 15.4 20.9 25.2 26.5 21.7 20.2 14.9 DSP 27.2 26.4 28.9 25.1 28.7 24.5 25.0 22.8 26.2 29.3 28.6 33.4 27.2 25.3 27.0 EB 37.6 40.6 34.3 31.9 32.0 30.5 29.7 27.6 35.0 39.7 34.3 void 33.9 31.6 31.6 FGS 28.2 41.2 35.4 missing 30.9 28.8 26.0 missing missing 37.5 30.8 20.7 31.1 28.9 28.9 FH 40.8 39.8 37.9 46.9 43.8 42.8 38.8 38.2 39.5 41.7 41.6 44.8 41.4 38.5 38.0 FJ 47.1 41.5 38.0 41.7 43.5 39.5 45.9 void 42.5 39.5 37.4 35.2 41.1 38.2 37.1 FM 33.9 35.2 38.4 42.1 46.6 missing 37.6 31.4 30.3 35.9 40.0 42.9 37.7 35.0 35.0 FRC 39.5 43.0 37.3 missing 36.8 28.3 missing 31.8 32.7 42.0 34.6 39.3 36.5 34.0 31.8 FT 33.5 32.7 35.2 32.2 37.0 35.2 31.8 38.4 34.3 31.8 30.3 41.9 34.5 32.1 32.1 FTG 38.1 37.0 34.7 37.7 38.7 missing missing 29.8 29.4 34.9 37.2 39.5 35.7 33.2 28.2 GB 23.5 21.4 19.3 16.3 15.0 missing 16.0 12.5 14.4 18.3 24.1 24.5 18.7 17.3 13.9 GE 37.0 41.8 37.6 37.4 32.9 30.6 27.9 25.3 34.0 35.7 missing 38.6 34.4 32.0 32.0 GR - - - - 21.1 20.9 22.5 21.6 22.6 24.3 27.5 32.3 24.1 24.1 24.1 GSW 38.2 44.9 36.2 34.9 34.1 32.1 missing 31.5 39.3 36.8 missing 41.3 36.9 34.3 34.3 GT 36.8 47.6 39.9 missing 35.3 34.5 33.9 28.7 34.9 38.6 35.5 38.0 36.7 34.1 34.1 HB 39.9 40.0 33.1 32.0 31.5 30.5 29.7 26.3 33.2 36.8 40.2 39.5 34.4 32.0 32.0 HHS 23.9 28.7 25.7 19.3 25.4 24.1 24.7 19.7 22.5 25.5 26.0 26.7 24.4 22.7 19.0 HO 33.6 35.3 34.3 35.3 36.3 29.6 30.1 27.6 32.5 36.5 38.1 40.0 34.1 31.7 31.7

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 51 Cheshire West and Chester Council

3 Site ID NO2 mean concentrations (µg/m ) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual mean Raw Bias Distance data adjusted corrected (0.93 to nearest factor) and exposure annualised (2) (1) HW 33.4 42.1 43.9 40.2 41.6 34.9 28.4 28.3 44.3 38.5 44.2 42.2 38.5 35.8 35.8 IC 38.2 39.3 39.0 33.5 missing 35.2 39.0 29.6 34.5 42.4 39.0 38.9 37.1 34.5 34.5 KR 34.8 33.2 32.6 28.3 missing 27.2 29.0 34.1 33.7 38.4 40.6 46.8 34.4 32.0 32.0 LH 36.2 41.3 39.3 39.0 47.9 38.7 42.8 33.9 37.8 44.8 34.5 void 39.6 36.9 32.2 LI2 40.4 39.3 40.1 41.3 35.9 38.8 40.5 33.7 39.0 46.1 55.0 48.0 41.5 38.6 30.3 LU 30.9 28.5 29.9 26.7 26.7 23.8 missing void 30.8 30.7 28.4 34.4 29.1 27.0 27.0 LVR 39.2 46.3 missing missing 34.1 35.6 37.9 missing 39.5 46.4 34.7 40.1 39.3 36.5 36.5 LVS 33.0 40.6 32.7 missing 39.9 28.0 missing 26.3 31.0 39.4 32.4 34.5 33.8 31.4 31.4 MCC 41.2 44.0 39.5 34.6 38.8 40.9 42.5 35.3 39.0 49.5 40.8 44.3 40.8 38.0 36.9 MOS 30.7 30.4 34.3 30.5 31.3 25.0 26.8 24.1 26.8 missing 34.3 38.6 30.2 28.1 26.4 NCS 32.7 41.4 38.4 37.1 33.5 26.2 22.9 22.7 25.2 29.9 43.2 40.0 32.8 30.5 30.5 NIN 36.9 35.4 38.5 34.8 40.0 36.0 40.5 33.4 38.1 41.8 34.4 38.0 37.3 34.7 34.7 NIS 31.2 30.9 35.1 37.4 42.0 34.0 31.6 24.4 30.3 42.0 33.5 37.2 34.1 31.7 31.7 NS 35.7 missing 34.7 37.8 41.6 30.9 29.5 29.2 34.5 37.3 33.0 38.6 34.8 32.4 32.4 NSR 32.2 42.5 48.4 42.1 missing 47.6 missing 31.9 35.6 43.9 43.8 missing 40.9 38.0 36.2 NWH 44.5 43.5 36.2 42.9 44.2 47.9 50.5 42.6 50.3 40.6 39.6 52.7 44.6 41.5 33.2 OB 46.0 73.4 48.6 46.0 missing 42.7 51.1 34.6 43.1 missing 48.1 48.7 48.2 44.8 43.3 OF 37.9 42.0 35.3 39.9 missing 33.4 36.5 27.9 34.9 38.1 39.9 40.0 36.9 34.3 34.3 OP 32.1 35.9 33.0 missing 36.6 32.0 31.6 30.4 33.2 41.7 38.5 35.1 34.5 32.1 32.1 OSJ 25.2 24.7 25.0 19.4 21.8 18.5 20.5 18.3 19.6 26.1 27.4 missing 22.4 20.8 19.0

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 52 Cheshire West and Chester Council

3 Site ID NO2 mean concentrations (µg/m ) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual mean Raw Bias Distance data adjusted corrected (0.93 to nearest factor) and exposure annualised (2) (1) OW 49.8 53.1 41.6 32.3 missing missing 46.9 43.5 53.6 missing 51.9 49.5 46.9 43.6 39.2 PA 47.5 missing missing missing 43.2 36.8 44.7 38.1 40.9 45.8 48.2 53.1 44.3 41.2 33.8 PG 62.0 missing missing 43.5 missing 42.6 45.8 38.3 48.9 52.5 53.0 50.8 48.6 45.2 45.2 RM 37.9 84.3 52.8 47.2 53.0 46.0 40.7 33.8 42.0 54.2 49.8 47.8 49.1 45.7 45.7 RPS 54.9 44.9 46.4 44.0 40.1 41.1 40.1 37.9 43.7 38.6 57.3 58.2 45.6 42.4 29.2 RR 36.1 41.6 44.1 41.8 41.2 36.1 32.9 37.2 38.0 39.0 40.3 41.9 39.2 36.5 32.2 SA 37.1 44.3 45.9 36.2 45.3 36.3 35.3 28.4 34.9 45.9 52.8 44.8 40.6 37.7 37.7 SF 32.3 39.0 36.3 34.3 40.0 31.3 missing 26.4 33.3 40.8 38.4 41.3 35.8 33.3 33.3 SM 32.3 27.5 32.3 26.4 25.2 22.4 24.5 22.0 25.1 28.3 28.7 31.1 27.1 25.2 25.2 SR 32.7 36.0 37.2 38.8 44.7 32.8 32.6 33.4 37.7 39.0 32.9 38.1 36.3 33.8 33.8 ST 42.9 44.4 48.3 43.2 51.9 45.1 43.8 38.1 34.8 49.9 55.5 48.7 45.6 42.4 24.5 SV2 27.9 30.6 32.0 27.0 25.9 24.5 23.2 missing 24.2 28.2 27.5 29.9 27.3 25.4 24.7 SV3 29.4 26.9 31.1 28.5 29.1 24.5 25.4 21.2 25.3 28.6 34.5 30.4 27.9 26.0 26.0 SZ 38.9 43.9 41.7 34.9 43.7 40.7 41.7 29.5 35.3 41.6 37.9 36.4 38.8 36.1 35.0 T11 33.3 40.8 34.7 29.8 28.9 missing 49.3 25.2 28.7 34.9 35.4 35.6 34.2 31.8 31.8 T44 37.9 44.3 41.2 43.5 43.0 46.6 missing 32.6 38.3 41.5 48.0 47.0 42.2 39.2 31.4 T6 48.6 53.2 47.1 48.2 44.3 46.9 27.1 34.2 44.6 52.6 57.7 57.6 46.9 43.6 43.6 TA 51.6 50.3 47.8 44.4 51.7 45.9 46.7 37.9 46.5 47.8 47.1 56.0 47.8 44.5 33.7 TB 36.6 47.8 42.9 40.3 42.1 36.3 34.9 31.0 36.9 44.2 38.9 41.5 39.5 36.7 31.9 TE 29.6 33.0 missing 25.8 27.8 23.5 missing 19.5 24.0 30.3 29.1 29.2 27.2 25.3 25.3

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 53 Cheshire West and Chester Council

3 Site ID NO2 mean concentrations (µg/m ) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual mean Raw Bias Distance data adjusted corrected (0.93 to nearest factor) and exposure annualised (2) (1) UCA 29.2 30.0 48.7 32.4 29.1 32.7 23.9 24.1 25.9 31.5 31.7 30.4 30.8 28.6 24.4 UHS 31.6 35.3 31.4 34.9 missing 25.6 10.7 22.6 23.6 29.6 28.9 38.4 28.4 26.4 24.3 UN 31.9 54.5 47.5 41.0 35.2 36.3 39.2 32.5 35.5 missing 52.0 45.3 41.0 38.1 38.1 VRC 22.3 25.1 missing 20.0 18.4 15.7 16.7 14.1 16.1 19.6 24.0 23.3 19.6 18.2 18.2 W23 37.7 39.7 34.0 34.3 42.8 33.4 33.4 29.4 28.6 38.3 37.9 37.8 35.6 33.1 33.1 WCR 46.1 47.7 42.6 38.1 44.6 40.5 missing 34.6 26.3 43.9 53.3 43.2 41.9 39.0 29.1 WG 44.6 49.5 49.6 40.3 49.7 40.0 42.4 33.9 35.2 45.9 41.1 41.8 42.8 39.8 39.8 WGW 36.1 36.6 38.3 34.0 44.6 37.5 39.1 29.3 31.9 38.6 34.9 33.3 36.2 33.7 33.7 WH1 33.9 33.2 39.0 42.0 41.1 40.3 32.7 32.8 33.3 39.9 34.8 32.7 36.3 33.8 33.8 WH2 missing 36.3 44.1 40.0 42.6 39.7 35.5 31.9 33.4 36.1 33.6 37.1 37.3 34.7 34.7 WH3 missing 31.1 missing 39.0 39.0 33.4 31.8 32.2 33.8 38.6 34.8 37.0 35.1 32.6 32.6 WIM 38.7 34.1 28.2 32.7 34.4 34.1 34.4 28.8 32.9 34.0 39.2 37.1 34.0 31.7 23.7 XR 35.1 35.2 37.0 30.2 35.8 24.2 29.5 30.1 33.8 35.0 38.2 36.6 33.4 31.1 28.3

☐ Local bias adjustment factor used ☒ Annualisation has been conducted where data capture is less than 75% ☒ National bias adjustment factor used ☒ Where applicable, data has been distance corrected for relevant exposure Notes: 3 Exceedances of the NO2 annual mean objective of 40µg/m are shown in bold. 3 NO2 annual means exceeding 60µg/m , indicating a potential exceedance of the NO2 one-hour mean objective are shown in bold and underlined. (1) See Appendix C for details on bias adjustment and annualisation. (2) Distance corrected to nearest relevant public exposure. Only applied to sites where annualised and bias-adjusted tube results were within 10% of the annual mean objective (ie: >36µg/m3), and to all sites new in 2018 for information.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 54 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Appendix C: Supporting technical information / air quality monitoring data QA/QC

Quality control procedures

Council staff follow a set of internal QA/QC procedure notes relating to the use of diffusion tubes for the purpose of air quality monitoring. These cover key stages in the monitoring process including storage, deployment, record keeping and management of NO2 diffusion tube data.

Data ratification, bias adjustments and distance corrections

Automatic gas monitoring

In-house staff perform fortnightly span and zero calibrations on the chemiluminescent analysers at the BO, CBI and WH roadside sites, and four-weekly span and zero calibrations on the remaining chemiluminescent and UV-fluorescent analysers, using BOC spectra-seal certified gas standards. The resultant span and offset values are used in the ratification of datasets. Automated internal zero checks are run overnight daily. Data from different sites is compared on a regular basis for the purposes of QA/QC. Data management and ratification is performed by an independent contractor, AQDM Ltd. This includes production of weekly, quarterly and annual summaries as well as ad hoc notifications of any exceedance episodes where necessary. The ratification process also involves comparison against national network sites to identify regional patterns and trends. In 2018 the analysers were serviced and calibrated at six-monthly intervals by Easy Technical Services Ltd (LR and LR-JG) and Enviro Technology Services plc (all other sites).

Automatic particulate monitoring

PM10 monitoring data recorded by the BAM analysers at Thornton-le-Moors (TLP) and Chester bus interchange (CBI) has been adjusted by the factor (0.96618), to give the indicative gravimetric equivalent figure.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 55 Cheshire West and Chester Council

The volatile correction model (VCM) was used to correct TEOM monitoring data to produce a gravimetric equivalent figure for each site.

Short-term to long-term data adjustment (annualisation)

Monitoring studies should ideally be in situ for at least a year in order to compare the results against the annual mean objectives. Monitoring sites with less than nine months’ worth of data should be annualised using short-term to long-term adjustments as set out in section 7.171 of LAQM.TG16. Just one site required annualisation in 2018. The calculated adjustment factor, Ra, in Table 11 has been applied to the result for site GR in Table 10 above. [Note: raw data for GR in Table 10 is 24.1g/m3 but application of the Ra of 1.073 and the bias adjustment factor of 0.93 results in an adjusted figure which is also 24.1g/m3]

Table 11 Annualisation factor 2018 (location GR) Site Site Type Annual Mean Period Mean Ratio 2018 (Am) 2018 (Pm) (Am/Pm) Liverpool Urban Background Speke 17.56 16.44 1.068 Stoke centre Urban Background 23.45 22.52 1.041 Warrington Urban Background 21.38 19.70 1.085 Wirral Background (Tranmere) 17.51 15.92 1.100 Average (Ra) 1.073

Diffusion tube bias adjustment factors

Triplicate sets of diffusion tubes are collocated with the real-time analysers CBI in Chester and WH in Ellesmere Port. Data from this exercise is used for checking diffusion tube precision and accuracy against real-time results in both a local comparison and to contribute to the national bias adjustment programme. Bias adjustment factors derived from collocation studies undertaken at various locations across the country are available on the Defra website.

Results from 30 national collocation studies, which use the 20 percent triethanolamine (TEA) in water preparation are shown in Table 12 below. The national bias adjustment factor for 2018 is 0.93. The local comparisons of diffusion

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 56 Cheshire West and Chester Council tubes against the real-time data are shown in Table 13 and Table 14 below. The local bias adjustment factors for 2018 were 1.01 at WH and 0.94 at CBI.

Discussion of choice of bias factor to use

The overall accuracy and precision results of the two local studies were good, as were real-time data capture rates. There were 11 periods of good precision for site WH and 12 periods at CBI. At CBI, the local bias adjustment factor of 0.94 compares favourably with the national bias adjustment factor of 0.93. The factor for WH is not as close however and this reflects the findings of these exercises at this location in previous years. It should be noted that the monitoring station WH is situated within a street canyon so the bias adjustment may not be applicable to sites with a more open aspect. Given how close the factor for CBI is to the national factor it would be acceptable to apply either of these to diffusion tube adjustment, but, as in previous years, and in line with the guidance notes in section 7.175 of LAQM.TG16, it has been decided to use the national bias adjustment factor (0.93) for the adjustment of all diffusion tube data as it is likely to be more statistically reliable.

Distance correction

LAQM.TG16 recommends that distance correction to relevant exposure be applied to all annual mean tube results (following annualisation and bias adjustment) that exceed the objective level of 40µg/m3, and that it should also be considered for locations where results are within 10% of the objective, i.e. above 36µg/m3, to account for uncertainties. Distance corrections have been applied to all locations that exceed 36µg/m3 (following annualisation and bias adjustment), as well as to all locations new in 2018 where the diffusion tube is separated from the relevant exposure. Distance corrections, made using the multiple tube calculator within version 4.2 of the

Bureau Veritas ‘NO2 fall-off with distance calculator’ (March 2018), have been applied to annual results at the following locations: C36, CN, CPL, DEL, DSP, FH, FJ, FRC, FTG, GB, HHS, LH, LI2, MCC, MOS, NSR, NWH, OB, OSJ, OW, PA, RPS, RR, ST, SV2, SZ, T44, TA, TB, UCA, UHS, WCR, WIM and XR. An extract of the distance calculator is shown in Table 15 and the adjusted data in Table 10.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 57 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Consideration has previously been given to applying distance correction to the annual result for tube location CBI. However, it was considered that because the separation distance between CBI and the road is greater than the distance between the facade of the nearest relevant exposure and the kerb of the same road at diffusion tube location OW, distance correction should not be applied to CBI. This approach was put to the LAQM helpdesk, who agreed that, in this circumstance, diffusion tube OW will be used to represent relative exposure at the facade of the residential building after distance correction has been applied.

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 58 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Table 12 National bias adjustment factor (v0319) Analysis Method Year Site Local authority Length Tube mean Auto mean Bias Tube Bias of (Dm)(g/m3) (Cm)(g/m3) (%) precision factor study (Cm/Dm) Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Ards and North 11 36 29 27.4% G 0.78 Down Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Gedling 12 33 32 5.6% G 0.95 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Lisburn Castlereagh 12 32 24 32.1% G 0.76 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Monmouthshire 12 38 36 4.7% G 0.96 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 UB Northampton 12 16 13 26.8% G 0.79 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Bedford 11 32 29 9.2% G 0.92 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R King's Lynn 12 26 24 6.0% G 0.94 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Cheshire West and 12 36 37 -2.5% G 1.03 Chester Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Cheshire West and 12 43 40 6.1% G 0.94 Chester Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Fareham 12 28 34 -17.5% G 1.21 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Fareham 12 37 34 8.9% G 0.92 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Fareham 12 32 28 12.6% G 0.89 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Nottingham 12 35 34 0.3% G 1.00 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Bracknell Forest 12 44 37 19.4% G 0.84 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Brighton and Hove 9 48 50 -3.7% G 1.04 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Eastleigh 11 28 32 -12.0% G 1.14 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Eastleigh 12 42 38 10.2% G 0.91 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 UB Eastleigh 12 27 28 -4.4% G 1.05 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Gateshead 12 29 25 13.9% G 0.88 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Gateshead 12 32 29 10.8% G 0.90 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Gateshead 9 40 41 -1.8% G 1.02 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Wokingham 12 38 33 13.2% G 0.88 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Bath NE Somerset 12 40 39 4.0% G 0.96 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Bedford 10 30 27 8.8% G 0.92 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 KS Marylebone Road 11 93 85 9.3% G 0.91 Intercomparison Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R South Gloucs 12 21 20 6.3% G 0.94 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Thurrock 12 53 52 2.3% S 0.98 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Thurrock 12 34 30 15.1% G 0.87 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 R Thurrock 12 31 24 28.8% G 0.78 Gradko 20% TEA in water 2018 UB Thurrock 12 27 25 9.2% S 0.92 Overall Factor (30 studies) Use 0.93

*TEA = triethanolamine

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 59 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Table 13 Calculation of local bias adjustment – Whitby Road

Diffusion tubes measurements Automatic method Data quality check Start date End date Tube 1 Tube 2 Tube 3 Triplicate Standard Coefficient of 95% CI of Period Data capture Tubes Automatic

dd/mm/yyyy dd/mm/yyyy µgm -3 µgm -3 µgm -3 mean deviation variation (CV) mean mean (% DC) precision check monitor Period data capture check

1 03/01/2018 01/02/2018 33.9 41.6 99.7 Good 2 01/02/2018 01/03/2018 33.2 36.3 31.1 34 2.6 8 6.5 42.6 99.3 Good Good 3 01/03/2018 28/03/2018 39.0 44.1 42 3.6 9 32.3 43.9 99.5 Good Good 4 28/03/2018 01/05/2018 42.0 40.0 39.0 40 1.5 4 3.8 39.2 99.6 Good Good 5 01/05/2018 06/06/2018 41.1 42.6 39.0 41 1.8 4 4.5 39.1 99.4 Good Good 6 06/06/2018 04/07/2018 40.3 39.7 33.4 38 3.8 10 9.5 33.3 99.9 Good Good 7 04/07/2018 01/08/2018 32.7 35.5 31.8 33 1.9 6 4.7 32.1 99.6 Good Good 8 01/08/2018 05/09/2018 32.8 31.9 32.2 32 0.4 1 1.1 30.5 99.4 Good Good 9 05/09/2018 04/10/2018 33.3 33.4 33.8 33 0.2 1 0.6 32.9 99 Good Good 10 04/10/2018 31/10/2018 39.9 36.1 38.6 38 1.9 5 4.7 35.8 99.7 Good Good 11 31/10/2018 06/12/2018 34.8 33.6 34.8 34 0.7 2 1.8 35.2 99.8 Good Good 12 06/12/2018 09/01/2019 32.7 37.1 37.0 36 2.5 7 6.3 40.8 99.8 Good Good 13 It is necessary to have results for at least two tubes in order to calculate the precision of the measurements Good precision Good overall Overall survey -->

Site name/ ID: Whitby Road (WH) Precision 11 out of 11 periods have a CV smaller than 20% (Check average CV & DC from accuracy calculations) Accuracy (with 95% confidence interval) Accuracy (with 95% confidence interval) without periods with CV larger than 20% With all data Bias calculated using 11 periods of data Bias calculated using 11 periods of data Bias factor A 1.01 (0.95 - 1.08) Bias factor A 1.01 (0.95 - 1.08) Bias B -1% (-8% - 6%) Bias B -1% (-8% - 6%) Diffusion tubes mean: 36 µgm-3 Diffusion tubes mean: 36 µgm-3 Mean CV (precision): 5 Mean CV (precision): 5 Automatic mean: 37 µgm-3 Automatic mean: 37 µgm-3 Data capture for periods used: 100% Data capture for periods used: 100% Adjusted tubes mean: 37 (35 - 39) µgm-3 Adjusted tubes mean: 37 (35 - 39) µgm-3

LAQM Annual Status Report 2018 60 Cheshire West and Chester Council

Table 14 Calculation of local bias adjustment – Chester Bus Interchange

1 03/01/2018 01/02/2018 44.3 46.6 51.7 48 3.8 8 9.4 46.6 99.7 Good Good 2 01/02/2018 01/03/2018 52.7 48.8 55.8 52 3.5 7 8.6 46.9 99.7 Good Good 3 01/03/2018 28/03/2018 47.2 44.9 47.0 46 1.3 3 3.1 44.7 98.8